Berbera port(Mogadishu24)-The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has successfully facilitated the voluntary return of 157 Somali refugees from Yemen, marking another step in efforts to repatriate Somalis displaced by years of conflict.

The returnees, who had been living as refugees in Yemen for a prolonged period, made the decision to come back to Somalia voluntarily, without any coercion.

The group, which included women, children, and others who had faced difficult conditions during Yemen’s prolonged civil war, returned home under a repatriation program coordinated by UNHCR in collaboration with humanitarian organizations in both Yemen and Somalia.

The initiative aims to provide safe and dignified return options for Somali refugees who wish to go back to their homeland.

Yemen, once host to the third-largest Somali refugee population, has seen a significant change in its capacity to provide refuge due to the ongoing conflict.

According to UNHCR, Yemen currently hosts approximately 71,000 Somali refugees, though the situation remains challenging for many, prompting more to consider returning to Somalia.

Since 2017, nearly 6,500 Somali refugees have been repatriated from Yemen through similar voluntary programs facilitated by UNHCR. The agency has previously raised concerns over the dire living conditions faced by African refugees in Yemen, who endure harsh realities exacerbated by the conflict.

The Somali government has been actively working to repatriate its citizens struggling abroad, not just from Yemen, but also from other nations such as Sudan and Libya. The return of these 157 individuals underscores ongoing efforts to bring back Somali nationals facing hardship in foreign countries, with hopes of rebuilding their lives back home.