At least one person has been confirmed dead, and more than 180 others are missing after four boats carrying Ethiopian migrants sank off the coasts of Yemen and Djibouti, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Friday.
The incident occurred late Thursday along a route frequently used by Ethiopians seeking work in Gulf countries or fleeing conflict. According to the IOM, over 180 migrants are missing after the boats capsized.
Two of the vessels, one carrying an estimated 30 people and the other around 150, sank off the coast of Yemen, according to IOM country chief Abdusattor Esoev. He stated, “We are talking about 186 people who may have tragically perished at sea.” Most of those aboard were Ethiopian migrants, with five believed to be Yemeni crew members. Among the passengers, at least 57 were women.
“We are working with local authorities to try and locate any survivors, but unfortunately, I fear there may be none,” Esoev added.
The other two boats capsized off the coast of Djibouti due to strong winds, according to the IOM. “One or two migrants have reportedly died, but the rest were rescued,” Esoev said, although he did not provide further details.
IOM teams in Djibouti are assisting the survivors. Esoev noted that the number of migrants arriving in Yemen from Ethiopia and Djibouti remains high, with many coming from Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, which was devastated by conflict from 2020 to 2022.
The “eastern route” remains one of the world’s most dangerous migrant pathways. The IOM reported more than 60,000 migrant arrivals in Yemen in 2024, and a March report revealed a 13% rise in those attempting the route, totaling 446,194. Women and girls now make up a third of those undertaking the perilous journey, a significant increase from 2023, while the number of boys making the journey has decreased.
The majority of migrants on this route travel for economic reasons, with many facing grave risks due to unseaworthy boats, overloading, poor weather conditions, and smugglers forcing people to disembark at sea.
In 2024 alone, the IOM documented over 558 deaths along the route, following six major shipwrecks last year. Just last month, 20 Ethiopians perished when their boat capsized off Yemen.
