Page 77 - A Helping Hand for Refugees

Another problem concerning migration for Yemen is the migra-
tion overseas of an educated work force seeking a better income. More
than one million have emigrated for that reason. Although losing well-
educated and qualified people is a problem for Yemen, it is also not
without its benefits; Yemenis who migrate overseas contribute indirectly
to the country's economy by the foreign remittances they send home
to their families. These migrants may also take part in voluntary activ-

ities on behalf of Yemen in the countries they live in.

The number of those fleeing to neighboring countries due to con-
flicts or poverty is quite large. There are estimated to be 900,000 Yemeni
migrants in the Middle East and various African countries and some
700,000 in Saudi Arabia.

When the civil war in Somalia broke out, some 60,000 Yemenis
returned home, but that was not the sole source of migration to Yemen
from Somalia. The instability in Somalia led to an explosion in the
number of migrants from Yemen to Somalia. Various authorities now
say there are 700,000 Somalis in Yemen.

Ethiopia is another source of migration to Yemen in East Africa.
There are an estimated 10,000 Ethiopians in Yemen. However, it also
needs to be said that these figures are not entirely reliable, since they
are not confirmed by official bodies.

According to a U.N. report published in 2008, 50,000 migrants
reached Yemen from Africa a year.

Migrants generally reach Yemen from East Africa by sea, under
very difficult conditions, and usually fall into the hands of human traf-
fickers. Most migrants, who give their last few pennies to the traffickers,

are brought to Yemen in rickety boats. These boats are very frail and
lack even the most basic amenities, and are of dubious seaworthiness.

Adnan Oktar (Harun Yahya) 75