United Nations Radio

The UN refugee agency-UNHCR says smugglers forced up to 40 people overboard while crossing the Gulf of Aden and at least 12 bodies have washed up on shore in Yemen.

UNHCR Spokesman Ron Redmond says the boat carrying 115 people left northern Somalia on 31 October bound for Yemen.

"On Sunday, as the boat was within sight of the Yemeni coast but still in deep waters, the smugglers demanded more money from all passengers, who had already paid 100 dollars each prior to departure. Survivors said those who did not or could not pay extra were severely beaten by the smugglers and up to 40 people, mostly Ethiopians were thrown overboard despite their pleas for mercy."

UNHCR says more than 38,000 people made the crossing from Somalia to Yemen in the first ten months of 2008, sharply higher than the 29,000 who made the journey through the whole of last year.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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