In brief
The International Organization for Migration reports multiple incidents involving capsized migrant boats near Yemen and Djibouti, resulting in fatalities, numerous missing individuals, and highlighting the dangers migrants face in their quest for better opportunities.
CAIRO — A tragic incident unfolded as at least two individuals have lost their lives and 186 others are feared missing after four boats filled with migrants capsized in waters off Yemen and Djibouti. The United Nations migration agency disclosed these figures on Friday, revealing the perilous conditions faced by migrants navigating these dangerous routes.According to Tamim Eleian, a spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration (I.O.M), two boats capsized off the coast of Yemen on Thursday night, resulting in two crew members being rescued while 181 migrants and five Yemeni crew members remain unaccounted for. Concurrently, two additional boats capsized off the coast of Djibouti. While two bodies were secured from those vessels, all remaining occupants were rescued.The capsizing off Djibouti was attributed to strong winds affecting the boats as they left shore, explained Abdusattor Esoev, who leads the I.O.M mission in Yemen. The third boat incident occurred in the Dhubab district of the Taiz governorate in southwestern Yemen, which was carrying 31 Ethiopian migrants along with three Yemeni crew members. The fourth vessel, also capsizing near the same region, was reportedly en route to Ahwar district in Abyan governorate with 150 Ethiopian migrants and four Yemeni crew.Yemen serves as a crucial transit nation for migrants hailing from East Africa and the Horn of Africa, all seeking employment in Gulf countries. Many embark on this treacherous journey facilitated by smugglers often using overcrowded and dangerous boats across the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden. The numbers of migrants landing in Yemen reached an alarming 97,200 in 2023, which is three times higher than 2021. However, the figure dropped to just under 61,000 in the previous year, possibly due to intensified maritime patrols.Over the past decade, the I.O.M has reported that at least 2,082 migrants have gone missing along this perilous route, with 693 confirmed drownings. Currently, it is estimated that around 380,000 migrants are residing in Yemen.
