A boat capsizing in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday has resulted in the tragic deaths of more than 50 migrants, predominantly from Ethiopia, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by migrants from the Horn of Africa.
Tragic Capsizing in Gulf of Aden Claims Lives of Migrants
Tragic Capsizing in Gulf of Aden Claims Lives of Migrants
Over 50 migrants perish in a maritime disaster off Yemen's coast amid ongoing migrant crisis.
On Sunday, a distressing maritime accident unfolded in the Gulf of Aden, where a boat carrying approximately 150 migrants capsized off Yemen's Abyan province amid deteriorating weather conditions. Reports indicate that only 10 individuals were rescued, while the search for others continues, with dozens still unaccounted for.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has described the incident as heartbreaking, emphasizing the majority of the deceased are believed to be Ethiopian nationals. Abdusattor Esoev, chief of the IOM in Yemen, confirmed that the bodies of 54 migrants were located on the shore near the southern district of Khanfar, and an additional 14 were taken to a hospital morgue in nearby Zinjibar.
Yemen is a central route for migrants from the Horn of Africa seeking employment opportunities in Gulf Arab countries. However, the journey is fraught with peril, as seen in recent months where the IOM estimates indicate that hundreds have lost their lives or gone missing while attempting this hazardous journey.
A spokesperson for the IOM expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of life and stressed the urgent need for enhanced protective measures for migrants. This incident is not an isolated case; it reiterates the growing phenomenon of human smuggling, where unscrupulous traffickers exploit desperate individuals wresting with hazardous journeys.
The IOM has previously labeled the migration route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen as one of the busiest and most dangerous in the world. Just earlier this year in March, two separate vessels with over 180 migrants aboard sank near Yemen’s Dhubab district due to treacherous sea conditions, leaving survivors isolated to two crew members, while all other passengers are presumed dead.
Furthermore, an alarming trend has emerged where smugglers are reportedly risking lives by knowingly sending migrants into turbulent waters to dodge patrols, according to IOM reports. Despite the treachery of the journey, over 60,000 migrants have reportedly arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone.
In a grim record from the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, the last decade has seen over 3,400 migrants perish or go missing on this route, with around 1,400 of those losses attributed directly to drowning incidents.
