Yemen Observer: http://www.yobserver.com
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Local News
Written By: Mohammed al-Kibsi
Article Date: May 17, 2008 - 4:11:20 AM
The Regional Conference on Refugee Protection and International Migration is to be held in the capital Sana’a from May 19-20, according to a statement issued by the UNHCR website.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) António Guterres is to attend the opening of the UNHCR-backed Regional Conference.
Mr. Guterres commenced a five-day mission to Yemen on May 14 to assess the agency’s efforts to help refugees and internally displaced persons first-hand. On May 15, Guterres paid a visit to Kharaz refugee camp to meet with Somalis and Ethiopians who arrived in Yemen after making the hazardous journey across the Gulf of Aden in search of protection or a better life.
“The High Commissioner is to visit UNCHR offices in Sana’a and Aden, along with the Kharaz refugee camp. He will also talk to urban refugees in Basateen in Aden and stop at UNHCR reception centres on Yemen’s southern coastline,” according to the statement.
However, when the Yemen Observer attempted to contact the UNHCR office in Sana’a to get more information about his visit to Kharaz and al-Basateen they were not available for comment.
The Regional Conference is being organized by UNHCR in collaboration with the European Commission (EC)-funded Mixed Migration Task Force for Somalia, comprising international agencies working in the horn of African nations. The gathering seeks to create a regional mechanism and a strategy to protect refugees and mixed migration in the region. The two-day event will bring together senior level government officials from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia (including Somaliland and Puntland), Yemen and the Gulf Cooperation countries, as well as representatives from the African Union, the EC, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and civil society representatives