Thousands flee Somalia by dangerous voyage

GENEVA, Switzerland, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- More than 22,000 people have made the dangerous trip across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia to Yemen this year, the United Nations said Friday.

"At least 355 died making the perilous voyage and more than 150 are missing," Ron Redmond, a spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said.

Redmond said 1,500 Somalis and Ethiopians have arrived in the past eight days in 12 boatloads.

Many of those arriving in Yemen say they are from southern and central Somalia and are fleeing the Islamic Courts Union, which controls the capital, Mogadishu, and much of the country.

Most of the smugglers land their human cargoes along a remote stretch of coast in Yemen controlled by tribes.