At least 49 people have lost their lives and 140 are missing after a boat carrying refugees and migrants from the Horn of Africa to Yemen sank.
According to Reports by the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM), the vessel that capsized on Monday was carrying around 260 individuals, primarily from Ethiopia and Somalia. They had embarked from northern Somalia, aiming to travel 320 km (200 miles) across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen.
Refugees and migrants from the Horn of Africa and East Africa are increasingly undertaking this perilous journey to reach Saudi Arabia and other Arab states via Yemen. In a statement on Tuesday, the IOM said 71 people had been rescued, eight of whom were hospitalized. Among the dead were at least six children and 31 women.
This tragedy follows a similar incident in April, where at least 62 people died in two shipwrecks off the coast of Djibouti while trying to reach Yemen. According to the IOM, at least 1,860 people have died or disappeared on this route, with 480 drownings.
Despite the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which began nearly a decade ago when the Houthi group took control of large parts of the country, including the capital Sanaa, migrants continue to risk the dangerous journey. The flow of migration has persisted even amidst the aftermath of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking commercial and military vessels in the Gulf of Aden, demanding that Israel end the war on Gaza. In response, the United States and the United Kingdom have conducted air raids on Yemen, aiming to protect international interests.
The number of migrants arriving in Yemen annually has tripled from 2021 to 2023, rising from approximately 27,000 to over 90,000, as reported by the IOM last month. The agency estimates that about 380,000 migrants are currently in Yemen.
The spokesperson for the IOM, Mohammedali Abunajela said the sinking of the boat on Monday underscores the urgent need for collaborative efforts to address migration challenges and ensure the safety of migrants along these routes.
