At Least 68 Migrants Dead as Boat Capsizes Off Yemen’s Coast

A tragic boat accident has claimed the lives of at least 68 migrants off the southern coast of Yemen’s Abyan province. The boat, carrying approximately 157 people, capsized during rough weather, prompting a major search-and-rescue operation.

Local authorities in Yemen’s Abyan province confirmed that dozens of bodies have been recovered along the coastline, with only 12 survivors rescued so far. Most of the victims are believed to be Ethiopian nationals attempting to migrate to Gulf countries.

The ill-fated vessel was travelling a well-known smuggling route used by traffickers to transport migrants from the Horn of Africa through Yemen. Officials say the area is known for being hazardous and poorly patrolled, making it a frequent site of migration-related tragedies.

The head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Yemen, Abdusattor Esoev, emphasized the need for safer legal pathways for migrants. “We urge member states to improve legal migration routes so people aren’t forced into dangerous journeys,” he stated.

Despite Yemen’s ongoing civil conflict, thousands continue to risk the dangerous crossing each year. In 2024 alone, over 60,000 migrants reportedly arrived in Yemen, many facing abuse, detention, or worse.

IOM’s Missing Migrants Project reports over 3,400 deaths and disappearances on the Horn of Africa–Yemen route in the past decade, 1,400 of them due to drowning. In March this year, two separate boat accidents off Dhubab district left dozens dead.

Yemen’s civil war, which began in 2014, has created a breeding ground for human smuggling operations. With the country’s infrastructure devastated and much of its territory controlled by various armed factions, enforcement and rescue efforts remain limited.