186 Missing, 2 Dead After Migrant Boats Capsize Off Yemen and Djibouti

At least two lives were lost and 186 people remain missing after four migrant boats capsized in waters off Yemen and Djibouti, the U.N.'s migration agency reported on Friday. This tragedy highlights the perilous journeys migrants are forced to undertake in search of better opportunities.

Two of the vessels met their fate off the coast of Yemen late Thursday, according to Tamim Eleian, spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration (IOM). While two crewmembers were rescued, a staggering 181 migrants and five Yemeni crewmembers are still unaccounted for. The details of their disappearance paint a grim picture of the risks migrants face.

Off the shores of Djibouti, two additional boats capsized around the same time. IOM’s head of mission in Yemen, Abdusattor Esoev, explained that strong winds near the Djibouti beach caused the vessels to overturn shortly after they began their journey. Tragically, the bodies of two migrants were recovered, though the remaining passengers were saved.

One boat capsized in the Dhubab district of Taiz governorate, southwestern Yemen, carrying 31 Ethiopian migrants and three Yemeni crewmembers. Another boat heading to Ahwar district in Abyan governorate was loaded with 150 Ethiopian migrants and four Yemeni crew when it also overturned. These overcrowded vessels not only reflect the desperation of those onboard but also the reckless practices of smugglers.

Yemen has long been a critical transit point for migrants from East Africa and the Horn of Africa attempting to reach Gulf nations. Despite the dangers, an estimated 97,200 migrants made it to Yemen in 2023, a significant increase compared to the 61,000 recorded the previous year. The IOM attributes this uptick to reduced patrolling of the waters, which smugglers were quick to exploit.

Over the past decade, more than 2,082 migrants have disappeared along this route, including 693 confirmed to have drowned. These numbers are as haunting as they are heartbreaking, reflecting a deeply entrenched humanitarian crisis. Currently, Yemen hosts approximately 380,000 migrants, many of whom endure unimaginable hardships in pursuit of a better life.