At least 68 African refugees and migrants have died, and 74 remain missing after a boat capsized off Yemen’s southern coast, the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed on Sunday.
The vessel, carrying 154 Ethiopian nationals, sank near the province of Abyan, according to Abdusattor Esoev, the IOM’s head of mission in Yemen. Only 12 individuals are known to have survived the shipwreck.
So far, the bodies of 54 victims have washed ashore in the Khanfar district. Fourteen additional bodies were recovered in a nearby location and taken to a hospital morgue, raising the death toll to 68.
Local authorities are now organizing burials for the deceased in areas near the city of Shaqra, said Abdul Qader Bajamil, head of the health office in Zanzibar. Search efforts are ongoing, though hampered by challenging weather and sea conditions.
This tragic incident highlights the deadly risks associated with migration across the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest and most dangerous migration routes. Thousands of refugees and migrants, mainly from Ethiopia and Somalia, continue to attempt the journey from the Horn of Africa to Yemen, despite the known dangers.
While some migrants aim to remain in Yemen, many seek to transit through the country in hopes of reaching wealthier Gulf states. However, the journey is frequently facilitated by human smugglers who transport desperate people on overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels.
According to the IOM, more than 60,000 migrants and refugees arrived in Yemen during 2024—a notable drop from the 97,200 who made the journey the year before. The reduction is largely attributed to intensified maritime patrols, according to a May report from the agency.
Despite the decline, the route remains perilous. In 2023 alone, 558 migrants are known to have died attempting the crossing. Over the past decade, at least 2,082 people have gone missing, with 693 confirmed drownings.
Yemen, despite its ongoing humanitarian challenges, currently hosts approximately 380,000 migrants and refugees. Although the 2022 truce between Houthi rebels and government forces has reduced some violence, the overall situation remains dire for both residents and migrants.
