At least 142 Ethiopian migrants are feared dead after a boat carrying 154 people capsized early Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Yemen, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM).Only 12 survivors have been rescued so far, while 68 bodies have been recovered from the shores near Khanfa in Yemen’s Abyan province. Authorities say search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, with hopes dwindling of finding additional survivors. “This is yet another devastating tragedy along the Eastern Migration Route,” said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Yemen. He emphasized the need for urgent international attention to protect migrants taking these perilous journeys.
The migrants, mostly young Ethiopians, were reportedly attempting to reach Saudi Arabia in search of work and better opportunities. Every year, tens of thousands risk the treacherous sea crossing from the Horn of Africa to Yemen—despite the country’s civil war and fragile security situation. A recent report from the Mixed Migration Centre describes the Eastern Route as the most dangerous corridor for African migrants. Travelers face drowning, arbitrary detention, torture, forced labor, and sexual violence at the hands of traffickers and militias.
In March 2024 alone, 186 migrants went missing after four boats capsized between Djibouti and Yemen. With over 550 deaths confirmed so far this year, 2024 is on track to be the deadliest year for migrants using the Eastern Route, according to IOM data. The ongoing conflict in Yemen has left a governance vacuum exploited by smuggling and trafficking networks, creating a humanitarian crisis for migrants passing through the region. International rights organizations are calling for coordinated action to improve migrant protection and address the root causes pushing thousands to risk their lives at sea.
