Young Somali migrants deported to Puntland

Tens of young Somalis who illegally crossed to Neighbouring Yemen in small boats have deported to Semi-autonomous regional state of Puntland, according to officials.

Fourteen boys who paid $ 100 Dollars to reach Yemen said that they embarked their risky journey from Bari region waters and were ferried to Yemen by Smugglers.

One of returnees said that during their time in Yemen they suffered a lot and spent a week behind the bars which forced them to accept repatriation.

Bari police commissioner Abdihakim Yussuf Mohamud said that Puntland government welcomes these 14 young Somalis to home.

He once again denied the existence of Puntland youths recruited by the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) or better known as its Arabic acronym Daesh.

“Its lie that Deash recruits youths here, but I can tell you new smugglers have emerged with new route to Sudan” said the commander.

Mid last month Puntland’s coastguard has detained people who smuggle immigrants and several immigrants in its waters as they tried to illegally cross to neighbouring Yemen in small boats, officials have said on Sunday.

The smugglers and immigrants of Somali and Ethiopia origins were caught by the coastguard as they prepared to embark their risky journey from Bari region waters.

Bari Governor, Yussuf Mohamed Wa’ays told reporters that they have arrested the smugglers who were taken to custody and might face charges of human trafficking.

“Operations against human trafficking will go ahead until we eradicate it from our region,’’ he said.

Among the rescued are women of mostly in their early-20s and children.

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.