Following a shipwreck off the coast of Djibouti, more than 24 migrants are missing and presumed dead.
On Thursday night, August 17th, a sad tragedy occurred in Godoria, near the seaside town of Obock in northeast Djibouti. According to the rescued migrants, there were around 60 migrants on board the vessel, including 18 women and at least two children under the age of 18. So far, 26 migrants have been rescued, and 11 bodies have been retrieved. The Djiboutian officials are still searching for survivors and conducting rescue operations.
Every year, almost 200,000 migrants undertake the treacherous trek from Djibouti’s coast to the Gulf of Aden, where the vessel became stranded. According to the IOM, fatalities at sea and on land along this route have escalated in recent months. According to the International Organisation for Migration’s Missing Migrants Project, at least 417 persons have died on migration routes in Djibouti since 2014. Despite the risks, the number of Ethiopian migrants coming in Djibouti from the Arabian Peninsula and Ethiopia is increasing.
“This is a terrible tragedy and a reminder of the enormous challenges that migrants and host communities face along this route.” “IOM is working with Djiboutian authorities and donors to respond to the needs of those affected by this incident, assisting local authorities,” stated Tanja Pacifico, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti.