Almotamar.net, AP - The U.N. refugee agency says thousands of Somalis are preparing to cross the Gulf of Aden to Yemen after fleeing fighting around the capital of Mogadishu.
The Geneva-based UNHCR says 12,000 civilians have taken shelter in the northern Somali town of Bossasso since early May.
UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond says most are waiting for smugglers to take them across the perilous waters of the Gulf to Yemen, where 30,000 Somalis have already fled this year.
He says more than 300 people have died or gone missing this year while attempting the crossing.
Redmond told reporters Tuesday that overall some 232,000 Somalis have fled their homes since May 7 because of fighting between government forces and Islamist groups.

Redmond also said the phenomenon of smuggling puts increasing pressure on the limited resources in Yemen and puts more challenges before the government's efforts to meet its commitments according to the international law in addition to protect the country against illegal entrance.

Warnings of the UNHCR against the increase of Somali refugees to Yemen comes two days after Yemen renewal in expressing its concern over the increasing influx of refugees to its coasts as a result of deterioration of security situations in Somalia.