Shipwreck off Yemen Kills 68 Migrants, Dozens Still Missing

At least 68 people have died in a shipwreck off the coast of Yemen, according to the United Nations migration agency. The boat, carrying mostly Ethiopian migrants, sank near Abyan province. So far, only 12 out of 157 passengers have been rescued, while dozens remain missing.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) confirmed the incident and expressed concern over the unknown fate of those still lost. IOM’s chief of mission in Yemen, Abdusattor Esoev, shared the latest numbers, calling the tragedy heartbreaking and alarming.

Yemen’s Abyan province is a common entry point for migrant boats coming from the Horn of Africa. Despite the ongoing war in Yemen since 2014, the country remains a major transit route for migrants. Many of them hope to reach wealthy Gulf nations for better job opportunities.

The boat sank while attempting to cross the Red Sea via the Eastern Route, one of the world’s most dangerous migration paths. Each year, thousands of people, mostly from Ethiopia and Somalia, take this route despite knowing the risks. Smugglers often overload boats and treat migrants harshly.

Security forces in Abyan have launched operations to recover bodies from the sea. Authorities described the number of dead as “significant.” Last month, another tragic incident saw eight migrants die after smugglers forced them off a boat mid-journey.

The IOM reports that tens of thousands of migrants remain stranded in Yemen and suffer exploitation and abuse. In 2023 alone, the agency recorded 558 migrant deaths in the Red Sea, including 462 from shipwrecks. The situation highlights the growing dangers faced by those fleeing poverty and conflict.