Yemen's refugee problem grows

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SANAA, Yemen, May 20 (UPI) -- U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman Adrian Edwards said more than 43 000 African refugees and migrants had crossed into Yemen since 2012.

Edwards said despite Yemen's instability and economic crisis more African refugees chose to make the risky journey, fleeing their war-torn countries, Mareb Press reported.

Edwards added that while Somalis were given refugee status upon arrival to Yemen, Ethiopians who were now in majority were left to fend for themselves, worrying the United Nations, the Yemen Post reported.

Yemeni Human Rights Minister Hooria Mashour told al-Masdar newspaper that although Yemen continues to honor its obligations towards refugees, the economic burden put on the state was too heavy for the country to carry alone.