Fatal Boat Capsize Off Yemen’s Coast Leaves Dozens Dead
Dozens of migrants die in boat tragedy off Yemen, as a vessel carrying 157 people capsized during stormy weather.
At least 68 people confirm dead, and more remain missing. The boat sank near Abyan province on Sunday.
Only 12 survivors have been rescued so far, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Most victims were Ethiopian migrants attempting to reach Gulf states for work.
Yemen has long served as a major transit point for people fleeing poverty in the Horn of Africa.
Smugglers Exploiting Dangerous Routes Along the Yemeni Coast
Authorities have launched a large search operation, recovering bodies from a wide stretch of coastline.
The IOM says the boat used a hazardous smuggling route often linked to human traffickers.
IOM’s Abdusattor Esoev urged nations to improve legal migration pathways to stop smugglers from exploiting desperate people.
Without safe migration options, more migrants are forced into deadly crossings.
These routes are perilous, with rough waters and overcrowded boats increasing the risk of drowning.
In March, over 180 migrants were lost in two similar wrecks near Yemen’s Dhubab district.
Migrant Deaths Along Yemen Route Continue to Climb
Despite the risks, more than 60,000 migrants have arrived in Yemen in 2024.
The IOM’s Missing Migrants Project reports over 3,400 deaths along this route in the past decade 1,400 from drowning alone.
Many migrants report smugglers knowingly sending boats out in dangerous weather to avoid detection.
This tragedy off Abyan is a heartbreaking reminder of the human cost of unsafe migration.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s ongoing civil war continues to destabilize the region, fueling both displacement and desperation.
The Houthi militia controls most of northern Yemen, complicating rescue and humanitarian operations.
