Tragedy off Djibouti Coast: At Least 109 Migrants Dead Following Boat Capsizing

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that at least 109 migrants, including 15 children, have perished and dozens remain missing after a vessel capsized off the coast of Djibouti.

The incident occurred on Thursday night near the port town of Obock. The vessel, carrying approximately 350 passengers, was en route from Djibouti to Yemen when it overturned. According to the IOM, around 80 individuals were successfully rescued from the water.

Alexandre Coissac, the IOM mission chief in Djibouti, described the catastrophe as a “stark reminder” of the extreme risks migrants undertake in their pursuit of new lives abroad.

The UN agency noted that every year, tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa attempt this treacherous crossing, hoping to reach Gulf nations in search of stability and employment.

In a statement released Friday, the organization confirmed that the recovered deceased include 52 men, 42 women, nine girls, and six boys.

“This is a devastating loss of life,” Coissac remarked. “Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain uncertain of their relatives’ whereabouts.”

Local authorities are currently organizing burials for the victims. Meanwhile, the survivors, who are all Ethiopian nationals, have been provided with necessary medical assistance.

Yemen continues to be embroiled in a destructive civil war that has persisted for over a decade. Despite the ongoing conflict and escalating regional instability, migrants continue to traverse the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, driven by poverty, insecurity, and the increasing effects of climate change.

The IOM reported that its Displacement Tracking Matrix has recorded more than 20,000 movements from Ethiopia to Djibouti since September 10.

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