The recent tragic incident off Yemen's coast saw over 50 migrants perish when their vessel sank under harsh maritime conditions. Rescue operations continue as officials report many still missing, highlighting the dangerous migration routes from the Horn of Africa.
Tragic Boat Capsize Off Yemen Claims Over 50 Lives
Tragic Boat Capsize Off Yemen Claims Over 50 Lives
A boat carrying approximately 150 migrants capsized in the Gulf of Aden, resulting in a significant loss of life, primarily affecting Ethiopian nationals.
More than 50 migrants died when a boat carrying around 150 people sank off the coast of Yemen in bad weather on Sunday. The vessel capsized off Yemen's southern province of Abyan, with only 10 people rescued and dozens still missing, according to local authorities. Many of the victims are believed to be Ethiopian nationals, said the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which called the incident "heartbreaking."
Yemen remains a significant route for migrants from the Horn of Africa seeking employment in Gulf Arab states. The IOM estimates that hundreds have died or gone missing in shipwrecks in recent months. IOM Yemen chief Abdusattor Esoev informed the Associated Press that 54 migrants' bodies were found onshore in Khanfar, with 14 others sent to a hospital morgue in Zinjibar, the Abyan provincial capital.
The Abyan security directorate released a statement regarding the extensive search and rescue mission underway and noted that many deceased individuals were discovered along a broad section of the shoreline, as reported by the Associated Press. A spokesperson for the IOM expressed deep sadness over the "tragic loss of life" and emphasized the pressing need for enhanced protections for migrants.
"This heartbreaking incident underscores the urgent need for improved protection mechanisms for migrants undertaking perilous journeys, often facilitated by unscrupulous smugglers who exploit desperation and vulnerability," they said. The IOM has previously labeled the journey from the Horn of Africa to Yemen as "one of the busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes."
In March, two boats carrying over 180 migrants sank off the coast of Yemen’s Dhubab district due to rough seas, with only two crew members rescued and all remaining passengers missing and presumed dead. Migrants arriving at Migrant Response Points in Yemen reported that human smugglers are becoming increasingly reckless, knowingly sending boats into perilous conditions to evade patrols, as noted in an IOM report.
Despite the inherent dangers, many migrants persist in making the perilous journey, with over 60,000 arriving in Yemen in 2024 alone. The IOM's Missing Migrants Project recorded more than 3,400 deaths and missing persons along this route over the last decade, with approximately 1,400 of those fatalities attributed to drowning.
