Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Tuesday that 20 Ethiopian migrants died after a boat carrying them capsized off the coast of Yemen’s Taiz governorate on Saturday.
A statement issued by the IOM’s Yemen office explained that the boat capsized on Saturday night (January 18) in the ZuBab district of Taiz Governorate, resulting in the death of 20 Ethiopian migrants, including nine women and 11 men.
It added that “the boat was carrying 35 Ethiopian migrants, a Yemeni captain, and his assistant when it left Djibouti.”
According to the statement, the survivors include two Yemeni crew members and 15 Ethiopian men, who reached the shore after the tragic incident.
The statement noted that “strong seasonal winds were behind the capsizing of the boat.”
The head of the IOM mission in Yemen, Abdul Sattar Issaweef, said: “This tragedy is a reminder of the dire situation and precarious conditions endured by migrants in their search for safety and a better life… Every life lost is a great loss.”
Issaweef stressed “the need for the international community to redouble its efforts to address the root causes of irregular migration and prioritize the protection and dignity of migrants.”
The organization stated that despite ongoing efforts to dismantle smuggling networks and enhance migrant safety, the waters off the Yemeni coast remain among the most dangerous in the world.
The IOM pointed out that this latest incident highlights the urgent need for concerted efforts to address the vulnerabilities faced by migrants.
It affirmed that it continues to “provide critical support to migrants along major migration routes in Yemen, including healthcare, food, shelter, and specialized protection services, however, the scale of needs far exceeds available resources.”
IOM estimates indicate that more than 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen last year, 2024. The organization’s estimates also indicate that 3,435 deaths and disappearances were recorded along the eastern route (the main migration route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen), including 1,416 people who lost their lives by drowning, since 2014.
