The death toll from a tragic migrant boat incident off the coast of Djibouti has surged to 24, as reported by the United Nations’ migration agency.
This devastating event underscores the perilous journey many migrants undertake as they attempt to return from Yemen to the Horn of Africa nation, marking a stark rise in such incidents this year.
The recent capsize, occurring on Monday, marks the second fatal maritime accident in a span of just two weeks off Djibouti’s coast. The nation, situated along the treacherous Eastern Migration Route from Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, has witnessed a grim scenario unfolding at sea.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the ill-fated boat, carrying at least 77 migrants, including children, capsized near Obock, leaving 24 individuals confirmed dead and 20 still missing.
Currently, 33 survivors are receiving care at an IOM center in Obock, while local authorities continue search and rescue operations in hopes of finding more survivors. The tragic incident has once again brought attention to the perils faced by migrants, emphasizing the urgent need to establish safer and legal pathways for migration.
Tanja Pacifico, the IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti, emphasized the dangers faced by migrants traveling through irregular routes, particularly children, women, and men, urging the establishment of safer migration avenues.
The migrants aboard the ill-fated vessels, predominantly Ethiopian, were reportedly attempting to return from Yemen to Djibouti after failed attempts to reach Saudi Arabia.
The challenging circumstances in Yemen have led to a significant increase in migration flows, with over 3,600 migrants having left Yemen for Djibouti since the beginning of 2024, more than double compared to the same period last year.
