At Least 109 Dead After Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Djibouti

At least 109 people have died and more than 116 remain missing after a migrant boat carrying more than 300 people capsized near Guhere off Djibouti’s eastern coast, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The vessel was travelling from Djibouti toward Yemen when it overturned between Thursday night and before dawn on Friday, based on accounts from survivors cited by the IOM. The agency said 15 children were among those reported dead.

More than 80 people survived the incident, and all of them were Ethiopian, according to the available information. Djiboutian search and rescue operations were continuing as authorities worked to locate those still unaccounted for.

Emergency response under way

Alexandre Coissac, the IOM’s Chief of Mission in Djibouti, said the agency was working with local authorities to assist those affected.

“Our teams are on the ground alongside local authorities to provide emergency assistance,” Coissac said, describing the incident as a “devastating loss of life”.

He added that the disaster highlighted the risks faced by migrants travelling along the route in search of economic opportunities.

“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities,” Coissac said.

A dangerous route to Yemen

The crossing between the Horn of Africa and Yemen, through the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandeb strait, is a frequently used but hazardous migration route. At its narrowest point, the waterway is about 20 kilometres wide.

Migrants from Ethiopia and other parts of the Horn of Africa use the route in the hope of finding employment and safety in Gulf countries. Djibouti serves both as a departure point for people travelling toward Yemen and as a destination for people fleeing Yemen.

The IOM said it had recorded more than 20,000 incoming movements to Djibouti from Ethiopia since September 10. It also reported that more than half a million people attempted to travel along the route into Yemen last year, while at least 900 people died or went missing.

The latest death toll and missing-person figures may change as the search and rescue operation continues. The cause of the capsizing has not been established.