Over 130 Migrants Lost Their Lives in Djibouti Boat Tragedy, UN Says

Published on 11/10/2026 – 15:22 GMT+2

At least 139 migrants died when a boat capsized off Djibouti’s coast earlier this week, the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Sunday, with another 84 individuals still unaccounted for.

The vessel, carrying 305 people from Djibouti to Yemen, sank near Guhere, north of Obock, during the night of October 8‑9, according to the IOM.

The death toll rose from 109 after recovery of an additional 30 bodies. Of the 109 bodies initially recovered, 52 were men, 42 were women, and 15 were children — nine girls and six boys. The IOM noted that more than 80 survivors, all Ethiopian nationals, were rescued.

“This is a devastating loss of life. Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives,” said Alexandre Coissac, IOM chief of mission in Djibouti. “Our teams are on the ground working with local authorities to deliver emergency assistance. This tragedy underscores the perils faced by migrants on this route as they seek economic opportunities.”

Search and rescue operations continue, with the IOM and local authorities providing aid to survivors.

The IOM said that tens of thousands of migrants travel each year from the Horn of Africa through Djibouti, aiming to cross the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait toward Yemen and onward to Gulf states.

“Poverty, insecurity, and the intensifying effects of climate change push many to undertake this perilous journey, despite growing instability across the Middle East,” the organization added.

In March, a separate shipwreck off Djibouti’s coast claimed nine lives and left 45 others missing as migrants attempted the crossing to Yemen.

Since September 10, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix has recorded more than 20,000 arrivals from Ethiopia into Djibouti.

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