At least one person has died, and more than 180 are missing after four boats carrying migrants sank off the coasts of Yemen and Djibouti, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Friday.
The vessels went down late Thursday along a perilous migration route increasingly used by Ethiopians seeking work in Gulf nations or fleeing conflict.
According to IOM’s Yemen mission chief Abdusattor Esoev, two boats, one carrying around 30 people and the other with about 150, disappeared off Yemen’s shores. “We are talking about 186 people that may have unfortunately perished in the sea,” Esoev told AFP.
The majority of passengers were believed to be Ethiopian migrants, while five were thought to be Yemeni crew members. At least 57 of those on board were women.
Rescue efforts are underway, but Esoev expressed concerns that no survivors might be found. Meanwhile, two other boats capsized off Djibouti due to strong winds. Most passengers were rescued, though one or two fatalities were reported.
IOM teams in Djibouti are assisting the survivors. Esoev noted a continuing rise in migration from Ethiopia and Djibouti to Yemen, particularly from Ethiopia’s war-torn Tigray region.
