At least 139 individuals, including children, lost their lives when a vessel carrying over 300 migrants overturned near Djibouti’s coast in East Africa, as reported by the International Organization for Migration on Sunday. The official count of fatalities includes only those laid to rest by authorities in Djibouti; additional individuals buried by fellow migrants await confirmation before being included. Alexandre Coissac, the IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti, expressed concern over the anonymous mass burials, emphasizing that each deceased person had a family story that might never be known.
Coissac disclosed that the migrants embarked on the ship on the evening of October 8, and the overcrowded vessel quickly sank near the shore. Despite local authorities’ efforts, the overwhelming number of bodies reaching the shore posed a significant challenge. Surviving migrants are being transported to the IOM rescue center in Obock for medical treatment, as many suffered from ingesting seawater and require psychological support.
A visit by Coissac to the shipwreck site revealed the survivors in a traumatized state, with some already aware of their family members’ demise. Others were granted access to phones to inform their loved ones of their survival. The incident marks one of the deadliest shipwrecks on the route from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, popular among migrants seeking opportunities in Gulf nations.
The ill-fated boat was en route from Djibouti to Yemen when it capsized, with all 80 survivors being Ethiopian nationals. The UN migration agency based in Geneva noted that the vessel carried 305 people and cautioned that the death toll might increase. Personal belongings belonging to the migrants, such as shoes, were found on a beach, raising concerns for the missing individuals.
Highlighting the risks faced by migrants along this migration path, Coissac stressed the need for safe and legal passages to prevent such tragedies. Despite ongoing conflicts in Yemen, migrants from the Horn of Africa continue to journey through Djibouti towards Gulf countries in pursuit of better prospects. Recent aid efforts in Djibouti have supported Yemenis fleeing the escalated violence, contrasting the tragic fate of migrants heading towards Yemen for work opportunities.
The perilous journey across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains a challenging route for migrants, with over 900 deaths or disappearances reported last year along this corridor. Amy Pope, the IOM director general, called for urgent action from governments and donors to establish safer pathways, emphasizing that every life lost underscores the critical need for preventive measures before another tragic incident occurs.