UN Says People Smuggling Across Gulf of Aden Doubles, Deaths Go Down (1/2)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says that by the latter part of April, more than 15,300 people reportedly arrived in Yemen. About 360 were reported killed or missing during the hazardous" class="hjdict" word="hazardous" target=_blank>hazardous voyage.

UN refugee agency spokeswoman Jennifer Pagonis says records show that during the same period last year more than 7,000 people had arrived in Yemen and about the same number had perished.

"Any reduction in the death toll is incredibly welcome. We do not really know whether this is a new phenomena that is going to continue or not. But, some new arrivals have mentioned receiving water and food during the crossing, which is quite new. And, the boats seem to be less crowded than in previous years."

The UNHCR says the surge in arrivals early this year was largely due to the continuing conflict in Somalia and the use of new smuggling routes from Somalia to Yemen and across the Red Sea from Djibouti. Many of the asylum" class="hjdict" word="asylum" target=_blank>asylumseekers also said they were forced to leave because of crop losses due to drought.

For years, the death toll has been mounting among Somalis and Ethiopians crossing the Gulf of Aden in rickety smugglers boats.

参考译文：

联合国难民事物高级专员署称，到四月下旬，据报道有超过15,300人逃到达也门，大约有360人在凶险的航行中死亡或失踪。

联合国难民署女发言人詹尼弗.帕格尼丝说，记录显示去年同期有7,000 多人到达也门，约有相同的死亡数。

"任何死亡数字的减少都是令人难以置信的惊喜。我们真的不知道这种新的现象是否会继续出现。但是一些新来的者叙述说在横渡过程中他们收到了水和食物，这是很新鲜的事。还有，他们坐的船只也没有前几年的拥挤了。"

联合国难民事务高级专员今年开始时难民的涌入很大程度是因为索马里地区不断的冲突、从索马里到也门新的从红海横跨到吉布提的偷渡路线。很多寻找收容地的人说他们是因为干旱造成农作物损失而被迫离开。

这些年，在摇晃的偷渡船中横渡亚丁海湾过程中，索马里人和埃塞俄比亚人的死亡数据不断上升。

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