UN: 68 African Migrants Dead, 74 Missing After Boat Capsizes off Yemen

Cairo: A boat carrying 154 Ethiopian migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, leaving at least 68 dead and 74 missing, according to the United Nations migration agency. The tragedy highlights the ongoing risks faced by migrants fleeing poverty, instability, and lack of opportunities in East Africa and the Horn of Africa.

The vessel sank in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen’s southern Abyan province. Abdusattor Esoev, head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Yemen, said 54 bodies were found along the shores of Khanfar district, while 14 others were recovered and taken to a hospital morgue in the provincial capital, Zinjibar. Only 12 people survived. The rest remain missing and are presumed dead.

The Guardian reported that up to 140 people may have died in the incident.

Despite being a country in conflict for more than a decade, Yemen remains a key transit point for migrants, mostly from Ethiopia and Somalia, who attempt to reach wealthier Gulf Arab countries in search of work. These journeys are driven by a lack of economic prospects, political instability, and humanitarian crises in their home countries.

Migrants are often transported by smugglers in overcrowded and unsafe boats, facing high risks during the sea crossing. Once in Yemen, many hope to cross overland to Saudi Arabia or other Gulf states.

In a statement, local authorities in Abyan described the scale of the search and recovery operation, with bodies found scattered across a wide area of shoreline.

The IOM has reported several similar incidents in recent months. In March 2024, four boats capsized off the coasts of Yemen and Djibouti, leaving two migrants dead and 186 missing.

According to IOM data, over 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024, down from 97,200 in 2023. The decline is attributed to increased coastal patrols and tighter border controls, but the underlying push factors,poverty, conflict, and unemployment, remain unchanged.

The recurring tragedies underscore the urgent need for safer migration pathways and regional cooperation to address the root causes driving irregular migration across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.