By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
A migrant boat carrying mostly Ethiopian nationals has capsized off the southern coast of Yemen, leaving at least 76 people dead and many more missing, according to Yemeni officials and the United Nations.
The vessel sank in the Gulf of Aden near Abyan governorate, a well-known landing point for boats smuggling African migrants toward the oil-rich Gulf states. Security officials confirmed that 76 bodies have been recovered, and 32 survivors have been rescued. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 157 people were on board at the time of the incident.
Some of those rescued were taken to the city of Aden for further assistance. Recovery operations are still underway, with a significant number of people unaccounted for. IOM’s Yemen Chief of Mission, Abdusattor Esoev, stated that the status of the missing remains unclear.
Despite Yemen’s ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis, the country remains a key transit route for migrants from the Horn of Africa, particularly Ethiopia. These migrants undertake the hazardous journey across the Red Sea in hopes of reaching Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations in search of work and better living conditions.
Each year, thousands travel the “Eastern Route” from Djibouti to Yemen. According to IOM, 558 people died along this route in 2023, with over 460 deaths linked to boat-related incidents.
Just last month, at least eight migrants died after being forcibly thrown overboard by smugglers, further underscoring the deadly risks associated with the journey.
Authorities confirmed that the boat involved in this latest incident was mostly carrying Ethiopians. Yemeni security forces have launched extensive efforts to retrieve more bodies from the sea.
Migrants who survive the sea crossing often face further hardship within Yemen, including abuse, detention, and exploitation. Tens of thousands remain stranded in the country under dire conditions.
In April, more than 60 people were reportedly killed in a strike on a migrant detention center in Yemen, an attack attributed by Huthi authorities to the United States.
The Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, continue to be major destinations for labor migrants from Africa and South Asia.
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