(CNN) -- One hundred twenty African refugees -- most of them fleeing war-torn Somalia -- were forced overboard at gunpoint off the coast of Yemen, leaving at least 26 dead and 20 missing, the United Nations' refugee agency said Wednesday. A Somali refugee walks past the United Nations-donated tents at a refugee camp west of Aden. Seventy-four survivors made it to the beach Tuesday and were taken to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees center in Ahwar, Yemen, according to UNHCR. Some told the United Nations that they were waiting on their boat for a smaller vessel to take them ashore when the smugglers operating the boat forced them overboard.
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74 survivors made it to the beach and were taken to Ahwar, Yemen
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Some told U.N. smugglers operating the boat forced them overboard
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Fighting in Somalia's capital led to increase in Somalis making journey to Yemen
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UNHCR: Nearly 26,000 refugees arrived in Yemen this year from Horn of Africa
@placeholder is a common destination for Somalis fleeing economic hardship and war because of its proximity.
Yemen is a common destination for @placeholder fleeing economic hardship and war because of its proximity.