Yemen: A tragic shipwreck off the coast of Yemen has left at least 68 refugees and migrants dead and 74 others missing, according to the United Nations Migration Agency (IOM). The boat, which was carrying an estimated 150 people, capsized near Yemen’s southern province of Abyan.
The IOM reported that the vessel was carrying migrants, primarily from Ethiopia, who were attempting to cross the Gulf of Aden as a transit point to reach wealthier Gulf nations. A massive search and rescue operation was launched in response to the disaster. The bodies of 54 migrants were found washed ashore in the Khanfar district, while 14 others were recovered from another location. Only 12 people are confirmed to have survived the incident.
This latest tragedy underscores the extreme dangers of this migration route. The IOM has consistently highlighted the perils faced by migrants and refugees traveling from the Horn of Africa to Yemen. According to IOM data, 558 people lost their lives on this route last year. Over the past decade, at least 2,082 people have gone missing, with 693 confirmed to have drowned. The IOM has called for greater international cooperation and safer migration channels to prevent similar disasters in the future.
