[UN Evacuates 154 Somali Refugees from Yemen in Voluntary Return

**UNHCR Facilitates Voluntary Return of 154 Somali Refugees from Yemen**

*August 28, 2026 – Aden, Yemen* – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Thursday that it has organized the voluntary return of 154 Somali refugees from Yemen to Somalia. The operation, carried out in the port city of Aden, marks one of the latest efforts by the agency to assist displaced persons amid the protracted conflict in Yemen.

According to UNHCR officials, the refugees were provided with the necessary documentation, transportation, and support services to ensure a safe and orderly departure. The agency emphasized that the returns were voluntary and that participants received briefings on the conditions awaiting them in Somalia.

The return of the 154 individuals follows a broader pattern of displacement that began when many Somalis fled to Yemen during the early 1990s and later sought refuge amid the ongoing civil war that erupted in 2015. Over the years, UNHCR and partner organizations have worked to improve living conditions for Somali refugees in Yemen, while also exploring durable solutions, including repatriation, local integration, and resettlement.

UNHCR’s spokesperson highlighted the challenges faced by refugees in Yemen, noting that the deteriorating security situation and limited access to basic services have heightened the need for durable solutions. “Facilitating voluntary returns is a critical component of our mandate to protect refugees and uphold their rights to return safely to their country of origin when they choose to do so,” the spokesperson said.

The agency has not disclosed the identities of the returning refugees, nor the specific routes used for their repatriation. UNHCR continues to monitor the situation in both Yemen and Somalia to ensure that returnees are not exposed to further risk and that any future returns are conducted in accordance with international humanitarian standards.

The operation was coordinated with the governments of Yemen and Somalia, as well as local authorities in Aden, to secure the necessary logistical arrangements. UNHCR officials indicated that additional repatriation initiatives are being planned, contingent upon the evolving security and humanitarian conditions in the region.

*Source: UNHCR announcement, reported via Yemen Online (RSS feed).*

Article source: yemenonline.info | Image credit: Yemen Online