At least 139 dead after migrant boat capsizes off Djibouti

At least 139 people, including 15 children, have died after a boat carrying more than 300 migrants capsized off Djibouti’s eastern coast, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The vessel was travelling from Djibouti to Yemen when it overturned near Guhere in the Gulf of Aden. The IOM said 84 people were still missing, while more than 80 people survived. All of the reported survivors were Ethiopians.

Search operations continue

Djiboutian search and rescue teams continued working after the incident, with local authorities involved in the response. The IOM said its teams were also on the ground providing emergency assistance alongside officials.

Alexandre Coissac, the IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti, described the incident as a “devastating loss of life”. He said the agency’s response teams were working with local authorities and called the tragedy a reminder of the dangers facing migrants on the route.

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

Death toll may change

The current death toll covers people buried by authorities in Djibouti. Coissac said bodies buried by migrants had not been included in the official figure because authorities must verify them first.

That process means the number of confirmed deaths could increase as identification and verification efforts continue. The exact number of people aboard the boat and the precise number of survivors were not available.

A dangerous migration corridor

The Bab al-Mandeb strait, which separates Djibouti and Yemen, is a heavily used but dangerous route for migrants from the Horn of Africa. Many travel through the area in search of employment and safety in Gulf countries.

The IOM recorded more than 20,000 incoming movements to Djibouti from Ethiopia since September 10. The agency also reported that more than half a million people attempted to travel along the route into Yemen last year, with at least 900 people dying or going missing.

Djibouti is also receiving people fleeing renewed conflict in Yemen, adding to the movement of people across the waterway.