Shipwreck off Yemen’s Coast Kills Over 100 African Migrants

Shipwreck off Yemen’s Coast Kills Over 100 African Migrants
—————————-
A boat carrying more than 150 predominantly Ethiopian migrants capsized off the southern coast of Yemen, resulting in a significant loss of life, The Guardian reported. A senior official from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has described it as one of the deadliest shipwrecks of the year in the region.

According to The Guardian, the boat was on a perilous smuggling route in the Gulf of Aden, headed for Abyan governorate in southern Yemen. The IOM has confirmed the deaths of 76 people, with another 74 missing and presumed dead. Only 32 people were rescued.

Despite the ongoing civil war, Yemen remains a critical transit point for irregular migration, particularly for those fleeing ethnic conflicts in Ethiopia. The route from Djibouti to Yemen is controlled by smuggling and human-trafficking networks. The IOM recorded over 558 deaths on this route last year, with 462 resulting from boat accidents. The report highlights that migrants are aware of the risks but often feel they have no other options due to a lack of legal pathways and the need to send money back to their families.