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Yemen's southern province of Abyan has been struck by tragedy after a boat carrying approximately 150 migrants capsized off its coast on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least fifty people. Local authorities reported that only ten survivors have been rescued, with dozens of others still missing. The disaster is believed to have been caused by treacherous weather conditions.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) suggests that the majority of the victims are Ethiopian nationals. According to IOM Chief Abdusattor Esoev, 54 bodies were recovered on the shores of Khanfar district, and another 14 were taken to a hospital morgue in Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan province. The Abyan Security Directorate has confirmed that a large-scale search and rescue operation is underway, with more bodies continuously washing ashore.
An IOM spokesperson expressed deep sorrow over the "heartbreaking loss of life," emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced safety measures for migrants. The agency highlighted how such incidents underscore the critical need for protective action, especially as "unscrupulous smugglers exploit the vulnerability of migrants and push them into dangerous journeys."
Yemen serves as a crucial transit point for migrants traveling from the Horn of Africa to the Gulf Arab states. The BBC reports that hundreds of migrants have either died or gone missing in similar shipwreck in recent months. The IOM estimates that over 60,000 migrants have arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone.
This latest incident follows a similar tragedy in March of this year, when two boats carrying over 180 migrants sank off the coast of Yemen's Dhubab district. Only two crew members were rescued at that time, with all other passengers presumed dead or missing. The IOM's Missing Migrants Project reveals that over the past decade, more than 3,400 people have died or disappeared on this route, with 1,400 of those deaths occurring in boat sinkings.