Tragic Capsizing Claims Lives of 20 Ethiopian Migrants off Yemen Coast
A boat carrying 35 Ethiopian migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen’s Dubab District, resulting in the deaths of 20 individuals, including nine women, Anadolu Agency reported citing the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The vessel, which also had a Yemeni captain and assistant, departed from Djibouti but sank near Al-Hajjajah on January 18.
Seventeen survivors, comprising 15 Ethiopian men and the two Yemeni crew members, managed to reach the shore despite challenging seasonal winds believed to have contributed to the incident. Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s chief of mission in Yemen, described the tragedy as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants seeking safety and better opportunities.
The boat had set off from Hammarta in Djibouti, navigating one of the world’s most hazardous migration routes. In 2024, IOM reported over 60,000 migrant arrivals in Yemen, with 3,435 deaths and disappearances documented along the Eastern Route since 2014.
