Seven Ethiopian migrants died from hunger and thirst after their boat broke down en route from Somalia to Yemen, the UN said.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed on Wednesday that 250 Ethiopian migrants, including 82 children, were stranded for seven days at sea.
The survivors arrived in Arqah, southern Yemen, on Tuesday, following a harrowing journey from Bossaso, Somalia.
“These people have been through a week of hell on the high seas,” said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s chief of mission in Yemen.
He described the survivors as exploited, terrified, and deeply traumatized by their ordeal at sea.
The IOM’s emergency teams in Yemen provided immediate lifesaving assistance to the survivors upon their arrival.
Esoev warned that such tragedies will continue as vulnerable migrants pursue increasingly dangerous routes to escape poverty.
Since the start of 2025, over 350 migrants have died or gone missing along the Eastern Route, according to IOM records.
However, the actual number is feared to be much higher due to underreporting and limited rescue efforts.
Despite the risks, Yemen remains a key transit point for migrants from the Horn of Africa aiming to reach the Gulf states.
Driven by hope and desperation, many migrants risk everything on overcrowded boats operated by smugglers with little regard for human life.
The IOM urged regional governments to strengthen protection measures and provide safer, legal migration pathways for the vulnerable.
As crises deepen across the region, the sea continues to claim lives from among those fleeing conflict, poverty, and hopelessness.
