First UNHCR-facilitated flight departs as Yemen return programme restarts

ADEN – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, resumed its Assisted Spontaneous Return (ASR) programme for Somali refugees in Yemen. On 7 October, 70 refugees departed by sea from Aden to Berbera, and today the first UNHCR-supported flight transported 148 returnees to Mogadishu, Somalia.

These return movements restore an option for Somali refugees who, after years of displacement, have chosen to go home. Yemen continues to host more than 61,000 refugee and asylum-seeking, most of them from Somalia.

Through the ASR programme, UNHCR and its partners provide refugees with counselling, medical screening, documentation, transportation, and financial assistance. On arrival in Somalia, further support is provided to help families reintegrate.

The long-awaited return home was made possible through the close coordination and support of the authorities and partners in both Yemen and Somalia,” said Marin Kajdomcaj, UNHCR Representative in Yemen. “We remain committed to continuing this collaboration to ensure that all returns are safe, dignified and sustainable. These efforts are made possible through the continued support and solidarity of donor countries and the wider international community, whose contributions enable refugees to rebuild their lives and pursue long-term solutions.

Since 2017, UNHCR has supported more than 8,500 Somali refugees to return home through the ASR programme, while continuing to assist refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced Yemenis across the country. The programme is implemented in coordination with authorities and partners, and made possible with funding from the Government of Sweden.

As Yemen faces prolonged instability, UNHCR remains committed to safeguarding the rights and dignity of those forced to flee, pursuing solutions where possible, and ensuring that humanitarian assistance reaches those most in need.

[FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:]

Mysa Khalaf

+967 712225158

khalafm@unhcr.org

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