In a tragic event on Sunday, a boat carrying approximately 150 migrants sank in the Gulf of Aden, resulting in the death of more than 50 individuals. The vessel capsized near Yemen's southern Abyan province, leaving only 10 survivors, while local authorities report that dozens more remain missing. Most of the deceased are believed to be Ethiopian nationals, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which described the incident as "heartbreaking."
The IOM's Yemen chief, Abdusattor Esoev, informed the Associated Press that 54 bodies had washed ashore in the Khanfar district, and an additional 14 were found in a hospital morgue in Zinjibar, the provincial capital. The Abyan security directorate has initiated a large-scale search and rescue operation, reporting that numerous bodies were located along a broad stretch of the coastline.
A spokesperson for the IOM expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss and highlighted the pressing need for better protections for vulnerable migrants. "This heartbreaking incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced protection mechanisms for migrants undertaking perilous journeys, often facilitated by unscrupulous smugglers who exploit desperation," the spokesperson remarked.
The route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen has become increasingly treacherous, with the IOM identifying it as one of the busiest and deadliest mixed migration paths. In March, another disaster occurred when two boats carrying over 180 migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen's Dhubab district, leading to the disappearance of nearly all passengers.
Reports from Migrant Response Points in Yemen indicate that people smugglers are becoming increasingly reckless, knowingly putting migrants in harm's way by sending them out in perilous conditions to evade patrols. Despite the significant risks, over 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone, continuing a pattern of dangerous crossings in pursuit of better prospects. The IOM's Missing Migrants Project has documented over 3,400 deaths and disappearances along this perilous route in the last decade, with about 1,400 of those attributed to drowning.
