Somalis rescue migrants in Gulf of Aden

Somali fishermen save some 126 migrants who were reportedly forced into the sea at gunpoint by traffickers

news.bbc.co.uk

Some 126 people have been rescued by Somali fishermen from the Gulf of Aden after human traffickers reportedly forced them into the sea at gunpoint.

The migrants, mostly from Somalia and Ethiopia, said they had set off from northern Somalia a week ago.

They said their boat had developed engine trouble and drifted for days before the people smugglers forced them into the sea. Six people are missing.

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[edit on 8-2-2010 by December_Rain]

They said the boat had originally set off from northern Somalia with 135 people on board, hoping for a better life in the Middle East or Europe.

Such migrant crossings normally head for Yemen.

The mayor of Laaso Suarad, the town which organised the rescue, told the BBC they dispatched a flotilla of fishing boats to search for more survivors.

Eventually they found 126 of them clinging to bits of driftwood and utterly exhausted.

The search has also found three bodies.

We have often heard about the dreaded Somali pirates but how often have you heard about any good deeds? I think this is a refreshing change from the continuous dribble of pirate news. The article also reflects the dangers and hardships that lie in such journeys all for a little better and modest life.

news.bbc.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 9-2-2010 by Inertia]