UN says 186 missing and at least 2 dead after migrant boats capsize off Yemen and Djibouti
At least two individuals have tragically lost their lives while 186 others are currently missing following a series of boat capsizes involving African migrants in the waters off Yemen and Djibouti. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the incidents occurred overnight, with two vessels capsizing off the coast of Yemen and two others near Djibouti.
In Yemen, two boats capsized late on Thursday, resulting in the rescue of two crew members while leaving 181 migrants and five Yemeni crew members unaccounted for. Similarly, two boats also capsized off Djibouti around the same time, resulting in the recovery of two migrant bodies and the successful rescue of all other individuals aboard.
The boats in Djibouti capsized due to strong winds shortly after departing from the beach, according to Abdusattor Esoev, head of the IOM mission in Yemen. One boat in Yemen’s Dhubab district was carrying 31 Ethiopian migrants and three Yemeni crew members, while another boat heading to Ahwar district in Abyan governorate was transporting 150 Ethiopian migrants and four Yemeni crew members.
Yemen serves as a crucial transit point for migrants from East Africa and the Horn of Africa seeking opportunities in Gulf countries. The treacherous journey involves smugglers transporting migrants on overcrowded and perilous boats across the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden. In 2023, a record 97,200 migrants reached Yemen, but the numbers decreased to nearly 61,000 the following year, possibly due to increased maritime patrols.
Tragically, over the past decade, 2,082 migrants have gone missing along this perilous migration route, with 693 confirmed deaths by drowning, as per the IOM. Currently, an estimated 380,000 migrants are residing in Yemen, highlighting the ongoing challenges and risks associated with irregular migration across this route.
The incidents serve as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants seeking better opportunities and the need for enhanced safety measures to prevent further loss of life along these migration routes.
