Twenty Ethiopians die after boat capsizes off Yemen
A boat carrying people sails near the Galaxy Leader commercial ship, off the coast of al-Salif, Yemen, December 5, 2023.
What you need to know:
- Despite continued efforts to dismantle smuggling networks and improve safety for migrants, Yemen’s coastal waters remain among the world’s most dangerous, the IOM statement indicates.
- In 2024 alone, IOM documented over 60,000 migrant arrivals in Yemen.
At least 20 Ethiopians travelling by boat died after their vessel capsized off the coast of Yemen.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday the accident had happened on Saturday but details only emerged this week.
The accident happened in Yemen’s Dubab District in Ta’iz Governorate, killing 11 women and 9 men
The vessel was carrying 35 Ethiopian migrants along with a Yemeni captain and his assistant, reportedly departed from the Hammarta area in Djibouti but capsized near Al-Hajjajah in Bani Al-Hakam sub-district.
It faces strong seasonal winds in the area.
According to the UN migration agency, 15 Ethiopians and two Yemeni boat crew members survived the accident after a harrowing ordeal.
"This tragedy is a grim reminder of the treacherous conditions migrants endure in their search for safety and a better life," IOM's Chief of Mission in Yemen Abdusattor Esoev said.
Despite continued efforts to dismantle smuggling networks and improve safety for migrants, Yemen’s coastal waters remain among the world’s most dangerous, the IOM statement indicates.
In 2024 alone, IOM documented over 60,000 migrant arrivals in Yemen.
"Alarmingly, since 2014, IOM’s Missing Migrants Project has recorded 3,435 deaths and disappearances along the Eastern Route, including 1,416 lives lost to drowning" the statement added.
The latest incident, according to IOM highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the vulnerabilities faced by migrants.
“The international community must strengthen its resolve to address the root causes of irregular migration and prioritize the protection and dignity of migrants" Esoev added.
Yemen is "strategically positioned on the Arabian Peninsula", making it a crucial transit country for migrants from the Horn of Africa, primarily Ethiopians, traveling to Saudi Arabia or other wealthy Gulf nations in search of safety and lucrative job opportunities.
IOM said most Ethiopian migrants traveling through Yemen are seeking to reach Gulf countries driven by conflict, climate change and a lack of economic prospects, only to encounter exploitation, violence, and life-threatening conditions along the way.
It is to be recalled that in June last year, 49 people have been killed after a boat carrying 260 migrants and refugees mostly from Ethiopia and Somalia, heading to Yemen from the northern coast of Somalia sank off the coast of Yemen.
