Facebook Twitter Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
Four overcrowded boats carrying migrants from Africa sank in dangerous waters, leaving at least two dead and many feared lost. Authorities and aid organizations continue search and rescue efforts
A tragic accident has occurred off the coasts of Yemen and Djibouti, where four boats carrying migrants from Africa capsized, leaving at least two people dead and 186 missing, according to the United Nations migration agency.
Two of the boats sank near Yemen on Thursday night. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that two crew members were rescued, but 181 migrants and five Yemeni crew members are still missing.
Abdusattor Esoev, the IOM chief in Yemen, shared his concerns. “We are working with authorities to find survivors, but I’m afraid we may not have any,” he told the AFP news agency. Most of the people on board were Ethiopians, and at least 57 of them were women. Five crew members were believed to be Yemeni.
At the same time, two other boats sank near Djibouti. Authorities recovered the bodies of two migrants, while the rest of the passengers were rescued.
Many migrants from East Africa and the Horn of Africa take dangerous journeys to reach the Gulf countries in search of work. Despite Yemen’s ongoing civil war, it remains a key transit point for these migrants. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives by crossing the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden in overcrowded and unsafe boats arranged by smugglers.
The number of migrants reaching Yemen has varied over the years. In 2023, about 97,200 people arrived, which was three times higher than in 2021. However, stricter security measures led to a drop in numbers, with just under 61,000 arrivals in 2024, according to an IOM report.
Sadly, many do not survive the journey. The IOM reported that 558 migrants have died on this route in 2024 alone. In January, 20 Ethiopians drowned when their boat sank off Yemen’s coast. Over the past ten years, at least 2,082 people have disappeared on this route, with 693 confirmed to have drowned. The actual number of deaths may be even higher.
Right now, around 380,000 migrants are in Yemen, facing tough conditions due to the ongoing war and economic struggles. Humanitarian groups continue to push for better safety measures and solutions to the challenges that force people to take such dangerous journeys.
As rescue efforts continue, the world is watching for updates on this heartbreaking situation. The IOM and other aid groups are working with local authorities to find survivors and provide help to those affected.