At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, have died after a boat capsized off the coast of Djibouti while travelling to Yemen. Another 84 people remain missing, while rescuers have saved 82 survivors, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The overcrowded vessel carried 305 people. Survivors told the IOM that the boat capsized near Guhere, north of the coastal town of Obock, during the night of October 8–9.
Search and Rescue Operations Continue
Following the disaster, local authorities and humanitarian teams launched emergency response operations. Search efforts continue as rescuers look for the 84 people still missing.
Meanwhile, the IOM and local authorities are providing emergency assistance to survivors. The agency has described the incident as a devastating loss of life.
Dangerous Migration Route to Yemen
The tragedy highlights the risks migrants face when crossing the sea from the Horn of Africa towards Yemen. Many take this route in the hope of finding employment and better opportunities in Gulf countries.
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However, the journey exposes them to dangerous sea conditions, overcrowded boats and the risk of shipwrecks. The route across the Gulf of Aden remains a major migration corridor despite these dangers.
The latest disaster also underscores the need for safer migration options and stronger protection for people undertaking these journeys.
