Geneva: At least 139 migrants, including children, have died and 84 others remain missing after a boat carrying 305 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti in East Africa, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday.
The boat was travelling from Djibouti to Yemen when it capsized on Thursday night or Friday morning, triggering one of the deadliest shipwrecks on the perilous migration route connecting the Horn of Africa with the Arabian Peninsula.
More than 80 people survived the incident, all of them Ethiopian nationals, the IOM said.
Rescue operations continued as concerns grew for those still missing. Personal belongings believed to belong to the migrants, including shoes, were seen on a beach in a video shared by the IOM.
Thousands of migrants undertake the dangerous journey across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait every year in search of safety and economic opportunities in Gulf countries. Many travel through Djibouti before attempting to reach Yemen, despite the risks associated with the crossing.
The migration route remains active despite the recent escalation of fighting in Yemen, which lies on the other side of the strait, the IOM said.
“This is a devastating loss of life,” said Alexandre Coissac, the IOM’s Chief of Mission in Djibouti.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities,” he said.
IOM Director General Amy Pope called for urgent action to prevent further loss of life along the route.
“No one gets into a boat like that unless they believe there is no other safe way,” Pope said.
“We cannot keep treating these deaths as normal. Safe and legal pathways save lives. I am asking governments and donors to act before the next boat goes down,” she added.
According to the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, more than 900 migrants died or went missing along the route last year.
The latest tragedy has once again highlighted the risks faced by migrants attempting to cross the sea in search of better living conditions and employment opportunities.
