Sana’a
At least 13 people have died and 14 others are missing after a boat sank off the coast of Yemen, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The incident occurred near the Dubab district in Yemen’s Taiz governorate. The boat, carrying 25 Ethiopians and two Yemenis, had departed from Djibouti.
The IOM confirmed that among the deceased are 11 men and two women. The search operation is ongoing to locate the missing, including the Yemeni captain and his assistant. The cause of the capsizing remains unclear.
The acting chief of IOM’s mission in Yemen described the tragedy as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants on this route. He emphasized the need to address these risks and improve protections for migrants.
This incident follows similar shipwrecks reported in June and July. The IOM highlighted the extreme dangers associated with this migration route, often exacerbated by smuggling networks. Migrants fleeing conflict, natural disasters, or economic hardship in the Horn of Africa frequently face perilous conditions as they attempt to reach the Gulf states.
