| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa Horn |
| USN rescues 70 people stranded off Yemen |
| 2008-06-10 |
| A US Navy destroyer operating in shark-infested waters between Somalia and Yemen has rescued a boat in distress which was loaded with about 70 people, the US Navy said on Monday. The USS Russell responded to a distress call on Sunday from the boat that had been adrift for two days after experiencing engine problems, said the US Navy Fifth Fleet, which is based in Bahrain. "There were approximately 70 personnel on board the vessel, some of whom were in need of immediate medical attention," a statement said, adding that the boat and passengers were being towed to Somalia to be turned over to the authorities. The statement did not identify the people on board, but similar journeys are frequently made by desperate African migrants using small poorly-equipped vessels. The Russell, a guided missile destroyer, is part of a task force operating in the Arabian Sea to "help develop security in the maritime environment", the US Navy said. The waters off Somalia -- which has not had an effective central government for more than 17 years and is plagued by insecurity -- are considered to be among the most dangerous in the world due to frequent piracy attacks. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #1 It was a 45 foot ship with 70 people aboard. Can anyone say "illegal immigrants"? It says something about Somalia that people flee it by going to Yemen. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2008-06-10 13:18 |