MOGADISHU, (HAN) — Somalia has repatriated 148 of its citizens from Yemen as part of a coordinated humanitarian effort with international partners, authorities said Thursday.
The group — comprising men, women and children — arrived in Mogadishu aboard a chartered flight, marking the latest phase in operations to bring home Somalis affected by Yemen’s prolonged conflict and deepening humanitarian crisis.
The return was organized by Somalia’s National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRI), the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
“This is a significant step in our continued efforts to support Somali nationals facing hardship abroad,” said Abdisalam Abdi Ali, Somalia’s minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, who welcomed the returnees at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport.
Conditions for refugees and migrants in Yemen have worsened amid ongoing insecurity, economic collapse, and limited access to essential services. Many Somalis remain stranded in the war-torn country, with some reportedly detained while attempting to cross into Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia.
Authorities said the returnees received immediate assistance upon arrival, including medical care, food, and temporary shelter, as part of reintegration efforts.
Deputy NRCI Commissioner Abdullahi Aden Abdi said additional repatriation operations are being planned, reaffirming Somalia’s commitment to aiding its citizens in crisis abroad.
Yemen remains a key transit route for thousands of African migrants seeking work in the Gulf, despite continued conflict and widespread human rights abuses.
