Ethiopian migrants stream into Puntland, VP of Puntland says

Influx of Hundreds Ethiopian migrants heading to Yemen continue to stream into the towns of the Somalia’s autonomous regional state of Puntland.

These migrants determined to risk their lives to try and enter Yemen on unseaworthy boats in search for a better life in Saudi Arabia.

Puntland deputy president, Abdihakim Abdullahi Omar said the administration of Puntland has no ability to stop the influx though the security forces launch operation against the migrants.

“They use Puntland, Somalia as a transit territory to Yemen and the Gulf States but Puntland cannot host all these people,” said Omar.

Omar said Operations to stop these migrants will be ongoing until human smuggling from this region is eradicated.

Puntland was known to be a departure point for migrants trying to reach Yemen for decades, but this has stopped since the breakout of war in Yemen.

Every year, Tens of thousands of African migrants risk their lives to try and enter Europe on unseaworthy boats in search for a better life. Many die atrocious deaths – beaten, thrown overboard, eaten by sharks, drowned or asphyxiated in the hold of crowded smuggler boats.

Impoverished Yemen is mainly used as a transit country, with African migrants often aiming to move on to neighbouring oil-rich Gulf nations and Europe to find work and better life.