• Source:JND
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Yemen tragedy:  In a devastating maritime tragedy, a vessel with 154 Ethiopian migrants sank off the southern coast of Yemen on Saturday evening, killing at least 68 and leaving 74 missing, authorities and the United Nations migration agency said Sunday. The vessel sank around 11:00 p.m. local time in the Gulf of Aden off the Abyan province in turbulent weather and strong winds. The boat was reportedly overloaded with African migrants attempting to reach the Gulf Arab countries in search of better economic opportunities. Just 12 migrants were rescued from the tragedy. They were all taken to Shaqra General Hospital for emergency care, with some being said to be in critical condition due to exhaustion and severe exposure to seawater, Director of Abyan's Health Office Abdul Qader Bajamil confirmed.

Local security authorities indicated that 68 bodies were recovered so far, with search-and-rescue missions ongoing along the shoreline of the Khanfar district and surrounding areas. Many bodies were found scattered across a wide stretch of the shore, prompting authorities to widen the search zone and deploy additional rescue teams. "Considering the magnitude of the disaster and adverse weather conditions, search operations are ongoing but very challenging," stated an official of the Abyan security directorate, who requested anonymity. The victims and survivors were confirmed to be Ethiopian nationals, as per both local health authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

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IOM, UN Agencies Mobilize Relief Operations

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has sent teams to support the relief operations in progress and offer humanitarian assistance to the survivors. In a release, Abdusattor Esoev, IOM Chief of Mission in Yemen, stated that he was seriously concerned by the increasing number of deaths in migrant shipwrecks off Yemen over the past few months. 'This recent incident serves as a tragic reminder of the fatal danger migrants take on traveling the Eastern Route," Esoev stated. Yemen, under more than a decade of civil war and humanitarian disintegration, remains a prominent migration route for African migrants, primarily Ethiopian and Somali nationals, seeking to reach Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.

According to the IOM, more than 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024, a noticeable drop from 97,200 in 2023, likely due to increased maritime patrols and worsening conditions at sea. The UN and humanitarian organizations have consistently warned about the dangers migrants face due to overcrowded boats, unpredictable weather, and ruthless smuggling networks. In March of this year, four ships sank off the Yemeni and Djibouti coasts with at least 186 people missing and two reported fatalities.

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Global Response And Safer Passages

Yemeni security officials and global humanitarian agencies have demanded swift international intervention to tackle the underlying drivers of illegal migration, enhance sea safety, and disrupt networks involved in people trafficking operating within the area. "Today's tragedy highlights the imperative need for regional and global cooperation to stop such routine loss of life," said a top security official in Abyan. As rescue efforts continue in difficult weather, the accident again sheds light on the human cost of migration and desperation that leads to thousands embarking on dangerous sea crossings despite the risks being well known.

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