A tragic migrant boat accident off the southern coast of Yemen has left at least 68 people dead, according to the United Nations’ migration agency. The vessel, carrying mostly Ethiopian migrants, capsized near Abyan province on Sunday.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed that only 12 out of 157 passengers have been rescued. Over 70 people remain missing. Search and recovery efforts are still ongoing in the area.
Abyan province is a common landing spot for migrant smuggling boats. Despite Yemen’s ongoing conflict, it remains a major transit point for migrants heading from East Africa to the Gulf countries. Most of these migrants travel via the “Eastern Route,” a dangerous journey from Djibouti across the Red Sea to Yemen.
Local security officials said recovery operations were underway to retrieve a significant number of bodies from the sea. The IOM has warned repeatedly about the risks of crossing this route, often used by human traffickers and smugglers.
Last month, another deadly incident occurred in the same region. Smugglers forced migrants into the sea, killing at least eight. The IOM estimates that thousands of migrants remain stranded in Yemen. Many face abuse, exploitation, and life-threatening risks during their journeys.
In 2024, the IOM reported 558 migrant deaths along the Red Sea migration route. Of those, 462 were due to shipwrecks. This latest tragedy adds to the growing toll of migrant deaths in the region.
The humanitarian community is calling for greater international attention to the dangers faced by migrants. Authorities continue their search for the missing and have not ruled out the possibility of the death toll rising.
For full details on Hamas’ latest offer and conditions, read the complete report here.
