At least 76 people have died and dozens remain missing after a boat carrying mostly Ethiopian migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen in one of the deadliest maritime tragedies in the region this year.
According to Yemeni security officials, 76 bodies have been recovered so far and 32 people rescued after the boat sank in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed that a total of 157 individuals were on board the ill-fated vessel, which was headed for Abyan governorate in southern Yemen—a common landing point for African migrants attempting to reach the Gulf states.
“This is one of the deadliest incidents involving migrants off Yemen’s coast this year,” said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s chief of mission in Yemen, adding that the fate of the remaining passengers is still unknown.
Despite ongoing civil conflict since 2014, Yemen remains a critical transit hub for migrants, especially those from Ethiopia, where ethnic violence and economic hardship continue to drive mass movement. Migrants frequently take the dangerous “Eastern Route” from Djibouti across the Red Sea to Yemen, hoping to eventually reach oil-rich nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE in search of work.
“This route is predominantly controlled by smugglers and trafficking networks,” said Ayla Bonfiglio of the Mixed Migration Centre. “Migrants know the risks, but with no legal alternatives and pressure to support families through remittances, many feel they have no choice.”
The IOM reported at least 558 migrant deaths along the Red Sea route last year, 462 of which were caused by boat accidents. Just last month, eight migrants died after being forced overboard by smugglers.
Sunday’s vessel was reportedly overcrowded and carrying mostly Ethiopian nationals. Some of the survivors have been taken to the southern port city of Aden, while search and recovery efforts continue in Abyan.
The tragedy has drawn international attention, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, conveying Pope Francis’ deep sorrow over the incident.
The IOM has long warned of the dangers migrants face not only at sea but also once they arrive in Yemen, where many are exposed to violence, exploitation, and detention. Tens of thousands remain stranded in the country, caught between war and the treacherous journey ahead.
In April, more than 60 migrants were killed in a strike on a detention center, in an attack blamed on the United States by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
As the death toll rises, humanitarian agencies continue to call for safer migration routes and urgent international support to address the root causes of displacement in the Horn of Africa.
Written By Rodney Mbua
