More than 4,800 Somali refugees returned home from Yemen‏

The UN refugee agency said Tuesday more than 4,800 Somali refugees have so far returned home from Yemen since it started an Assisted Spontaneous Return (ASR) program in 2017.

The UNHCR said 37 organized departures have now taken place from Yemen to Somalia since the ASR program commenced two years ago.

"In the latest departure, a boat carrying 114 Somali refugees left the Port of Aden on Monday and arrived at the Port of Berbera in Somalia today," UNHCR said in a statement.

The program is facilitated by UNHCR in cooperation with humanitarian partners and authorities in Yemen and Somalia.

It said some of the refugees returning home in Monday's ASR movement told the UN agency they were optimistic about a new life in Somalia and were hopeful that they will be able to secure their livelihoods by starting businesses.