109 Migrants, Including 15 Children, Die as Boat Capsizes Off Djibouti
More than 80 people survive as at least 116 remain missing after a vessel carrying 305 people capsizes while travelling towards Yemen.
GENEVA, Oct 11: At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, have died after a boat carrying 305 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti in East Africa, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday.
According to the IOM, the vessel was travelling from Djibouti to Yemen when the accident occurred late Thursday night or early Friday morning. The incident claimed the lives of 52 men, 42 women and 15 children.
More than 80 people survived the disaster, while at least 116 others remain missing. The incident highlights the serious risks faced by migrants undertaking dangerous sea journeys in search of better living conditions and economic opportunities.
Thousands of people from the Horn of Africa regularly travel through Djibouti before crossing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait towards Yemen and other Gulf countries. Many undertake the journey in the hope of finding employment, escaping insecurity or improving their living conditions.
Despite the ongoing violence and instability in Yemen, the migration route continues to attract people from across the region. Overcrowded vessels and hazardous sea conditions make these crossings particularly dangerous.
Alexandre Coissac, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti, described the incident as a devastating loss of life and expressed concern over the dangers faced by migrants along the route.
He said the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the risks people encounter while attempting to reach destinations where they hope to secure economic opportunities.
The latest disaster underscores the continuing humanitarian challenges associated with irregular migration across the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, where migrants often undertake perilous journeys in search of safety and a better future.
