Jiro Ose

Desperate Measures: Somali refugees

In 2008, the UNHCR (the UN refugee agency) recorded that more than 50,000 people arrived in Yemen, and at least 384 people have died and some 359 are missing and presumed dead while making the perilous voyage across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia. The actual number is believed to be much higher however. Most of those were Somalis fleeing the chaos and violence in their country or what is left of it.

After receiving first aid, food, water and dry clothing, refugees who survived the crossing of the Gulf of Aden, walk across the dunes to the road where they can be picked up and taken to the reception center run by UNHCR near the Village of Ahwar in southern Yemen Monday, December 1, 2008.
   
As the sun rises, refugees who were washed up to the beach after drowning during the crossing of the Gulf of Aden, appear in daylight near the Village of Ahwar in southern Yemen Monday, December 1, 2008. At least 28 people drowned and two were reported missing Monday morning after smugglers carrying them across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia forced them to jump overboard in deep water. The boat was reportedly carrying around 115 passengers.
   
Refugees who were thrown off the boat in the middle of the night, and most of them do not know how to swim, managed to find a rock to hang onto. As the tide rise, local fishermen head to rescue the refugees.
     
  
Refugees who were lost in the sea were rescued by local fishermen and brought to a shore after being forced into the water offshore. But many of their fellow passengers were not so lucky, lost their lives to the sea.
   
After two-day journey without food and water, newly arrived refugees hydrate themselves and receive first aid.
   
A refugee who survived the crossing of the Gulf of Aden walks pass a fellow passenger who drawn and washed up to the beach.
     
  
Yemeni coast guard ship navigates through Aden harbor. The coast guard of the poorest nation in Middle East is overwhelmed and under-equipped to deal with Somali smugglers for refugees and illegal goods, and the pirates along their long coast line.
   
  
     
  
Refugees just landed on the Yemeni coast are being transported to a reception center near the Village of Bir Ali on Yemeni coast.
   
A Somali man offer his biscuit to anther refugee at the beach after landing.
   
Somali man recovers after his treacherous journey on the sea at the reception center in Ahwar.
     
  
Somali nurse dispenses medicine to a newly arrived refugee from Somalia at a reception center in Maifa, Yemen.
   
A newly arrived refugee is being treated by MSF staff at a reception center in Ahwar along Yemeni coast. The new arrivals received first aid, food and water on the shore and were then transferred to the reception center to receive a complete medical examination by MSF and other assistance.
   
Refugees recuperate at a reception center in Ahwar a day after their arrival on the Yemeni coast from Somalia.
     
  
Refugees recuperate at a reception center in Ahwar a day after their arrival at the Yemeni coast from Somalia. Two sisters and a cousin traveled together from Mogadishu to Bosasso to Yemen. When they were thrown into the open water in total darkness of the moon-less night, they call each other to help each other stay alive. After the recovery, they will either try to find work in Yemen, the poorest nation in Middle East, or get smuggled into other countries, either options are difficult yet they prefer to leave it to their fate as long as they can escape the violence back in Somalia.
   
Somali refugee wait for their turn to be registered by UNHCR, UN refugee agency, in Ahwar.
   
A refugee was washed up to the beach after drowning during the crossing of the Gulf of Aden near the Village of Ahwar in southern Yemen. The refugees are aware of risks but the number has doubled in 2008 from the year before due to escalating situation in Somalia.