The United Nations’ migration agency revealed that the death toll from a tragic migrant boat accident off the coast of Djibouti has climbed to 24, shedding light on a significant surge in the number of individuals returning from Yemen to the Horn of Africa country this year.
The incident, which occurred on Monday, marks the second fatal maritime disaster within a fortnight in Djibouti, situated along the perilous Eastern Migration Route from Africa to the Arabian Peninsula.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 24 individuals perished and 20 remain missing following the capsizing of a vessel carrying at least 77 migrants, including children, near the town of Obock. The IOM further disclosed that 33 survivors are receiving care at an IOM center in Obock, with local authorities actively engaged in search and rescue efforts in hopes of locating additional survivors.
The Ethiopian ambassador to Djibouti confirmed that those aboard the boat were Ethiopian migrants.
Another boat, primarily transporting Ethiopian migrants, sank in the same vicinity on April 8, resulting in a death toll of at least 38.
Tanja Pacifico, the IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti, emphasized the urgency of establishing safe and legal migration pathways, noting the perilous risks faced by migrants navigating irregular routes.
The IOM indicated that individuals on both ill-fated vessels were likely attempting to return from Yemen to Djibouti after failing to reach Saudi Arabia.
Annually, tens of thousands of African migrants embark on the Eastern Route across the Red Sea in a bid to reach the oil-rich Gulf nations, fleeing conflict, natural disasters, or pursuing improved economic prospects. However, many encounter difficulties, with thousands stranded in Yemen under extremely harsh conditions, as highlighted by the IOM.
Since the onset of 2024, the agency reported that 3,682 migrants have departed war-torn Yemen for Djibouti, more than double the figure for the corresponding period last year. This surge, the IOM attributed, is a consequence of the significant challenges encountered in Yemen and en route to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
