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A tragic boat accident off the coast of Yemen has claimed the lives of at least 68 African refugees and migrants, with 74 others still missing. According to the United Nations migration agency, the boat was carrying 154 people—mainly Ethiopians—when it capsized near Yemen’s southern Abyan province.
Abdusattor Esoev, head of the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Yemen, confirmed that only 12 people survived the incident. The bodies of 54 victims were found washed ashore in Khanfar district, while 14 others were recovered in a nearby area and taken to a local hospital morgue.
Local authorities in Yemen had earlier reported 54 deaths, but the numbers have since been updated as more bodies were discovered. Abdul Qader Bajamil, a health official in Zanzibar (a district in Abyan, not to be confused with the island in Tanzania), said preparations were underway to bury the deceased near the city of Shaqra. Meanwhile, search operations are ongoing, although rough sea conditions are making rescue efforts difficult.
This route—from the Horn of Africa to Yemen—is one of the most dangerous migration paths in the world. Migrants, many fleeing poverty and conflict in countries like Ethiopia and Somalia, often risk their lives crossing the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden in overcrowded, unsafe boats run by human smugglers. Some aim to stay in Yemen, while others hope to reach wealthier Gulf nations in search of better opportunities.
Despite the risks, the route remains busy. In 2024 alone, over 60,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Yemen, though this was a drop from the 97,200 who made the journey in 2023. The decline is believed to be linked to increased maritime patrols that make the journey even more difficult and dangerous.
The ongoing conflict in Yemen, which began in 2014, has also contributed to migration in both directions. Thousands of Yemenis have fled the country, while others from Africa have tried to pass through Yemen as a transit point. A fragile truce between Houthi rebels and government forces, reached in April 2022, has somewhat reduced the fighting, but the country’s humanitarian situation remains severe.
Over the years, the human cost of this migration route has been devastating. According to the IOM, 558 people died along the route in 2023 alone. In the past decade, at least 2,082 people have gone missing, including 693 confirmed to have drowned.
The latest disaster is a stark reminder of the desperate choices many people are forced to make when fleeing violence, poverty, or instability. The IOM and other humanitarian organizations continue to call for stronger protection for migrants and more international efforts to address the root causes of irregular migration.
As families in Ethiopia and Somalia mourn loved ones lost at sea, the search for survivors continues. Authorities in Yemen and international aid groups are working to recover more bodies and provide support to those who survived this tragic journey.