A vessel carrying about 157 people sank in bad weather, prompting a large search-and-rescue mission and calls from the IOM for safer migration pathways.
At least 68 migrants, most believed to be Ethiopian nationals, died after their boat capsized off Yemen's southern coast on Sunday. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed the tragedy, which involved a vessel carrying about 157 people. As of now, only 12 have been rescued, with dozens still missing in dangerous waters.
The boat sank in bad weather off the province of Abyan while traveling on a treacherous route often used by human smugglers. According to Abyan security officials, a large search-and-rescue mission was launched immediately, with bodies being recovered across a wide stretch of shoreline.
The tragedy has amplified calls for policy changes to protect vulnerable people. IOM Yemen chief Abdusattor Esoev urged nations to create legal migration options. "What we are advocating for... is to enhance their regular pathways so people can take legal ways in order to migrate, instead of being trapped or deceived by smugglers and taking those dangerous journeys," he stated.
The impact on migrant communities is severe, with hundreds dying on this route in recent months. Despite Yemen being engulfed in a decade-long civil war, it remains a major transit country for migrants from the Horn of Africa seeking work in Gulf states.
The IOM has long described the journey from the Horn of Africa to Yemen as "one of the busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes." In the last decade, over 3,400 deaths have been recorded along this path. The risks are increasing, with smugglers reportedly sending boats into dangerous conditions to avoid patrols. Nevertheless, more than 60,000 migrants have arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone.
A search mission is still underway for the dozens of people who remain unaccounted for. This devastating incident underscores the extreme and persistent dangers migrants face on this perilous route, reinforcing urgent calls from humanitarian organizations for international action to create safer, legal alternatives and prevent future loss of life.
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