A group of 62 irregular migrants rescued by the US Navy in
international waters in the Gulf of Aden have been relocated to
safety by IOM to a refugee camp in Kenya.

The migrants, Ethiopians and Somalis, had been en route to Yemen
more than a month ago when their boat developed mechanical
problems, forcing them to drift at sea for eight days. Even though
a distress signal was sent, some of the migrants are reported to
have jumped from their boat to end their suffering after days of
lack of food and water.

A US naval ship on a routine patrol of the Gulf of Aden
responded to the call but the rescue took a tragic turn, however,
when the migrants rushed to one side of their boat to receive food
aid, forcing the boat to capsize. Those rescued said 38 migrants in
total had died on the journey.

The US naval ship looked after the migrants on board until final
arrangements were made to take them to Kenya which had agreed to
accept them.

The group of 62 rescued migrants – 53 Ethiopians and 9
Somalis, among them 12 females of approximately 23 years of age and
two unaccompanied minors – were received by Kenyan
immigration officials at the port city of Mombasa last Friday.

At the request of the US Government's Bureau of Population,
Refugees and Migration (PRM), IOM facilitated their relocation by
air at the weekend from the Kenyan coast to the Kakuma refugee
camp. The migrants are now under the care of the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

IOM carried out a pre-departure medical assessment and provided
the migrants with food before their journey to Kakuma. One migrant
who needed medical attention was also accompanied by an IOM
doctor.

Officials from IOM, UNHCR and PRM as well as officers from the
US Embassy and Kenyan immigration officers travelled with the
rescued migrants. UNHCR will assess the migrants to determine their
eligibility for protection.  Those not benefiting from refugee
status will be referred to IOM for possible assisted voluntary
returns to their home country.

For more information contact:

Ahmad Maher

Tel: +254733696933

E-mail: "mailto:mahmednbo@iom.int">mahmednbo@iom.int