BOSASO, Somalia (KAAB TV) – In a devastating maritime disaster, at least 49 migrants have died, and 140 others remain missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Yemen, the UN International Migration Organisation (IOM) reported on Tuesday.
The vessel, which was carrying 260 migrants, capsized on June 10 near Alghareef Point in Shabwah governorate. Among those who perished in this tragedy are 31 women and six children, highlighting the severe human cost of this catastrophe. The majority of those affected are Somalis.
Survivors recounted the harrowing experience through social media photos and videos, describing the terror they faced when their boat capsized after two days in the perilous waters of the Gulf of Aden.
Images from the scene showed bodies scattered along the seashore. Two men standing next to the bodies expressed their survival ordeal, with one stating, “We were in the sea for two days when the boat stopped working. Only those who knew how to swim survived.”
“This recent tragedy is another reminder of the urgent need to work together to address migration challenges and ensure the safety and security of migrants along migration routes,” said Mohammedali Abunajela, IOM Spokesperson. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families as we remain committed to supporting survivors and improving search and rescue efforts in the region.”
The ill-fated boat left Bossaso in Somalia’s Puntland State
According to survivors, the ill-fated boat left Bossaso in Somalia’s Puntland State at around 3:00 am on Sunday, carrying 115 Somali nationals and 145 Ethiopians, including 90 women.
This incident reflects the increasing number of migrants from the Horn of Africa traveling to Yemen, driven by political and economic instability, severe droughts, and other extreme weather events in countries like Ethiopia and Somalia.
In response to the disaster, IOM has deployed two mobile medical teams to provide immediate assistance to the survivors, including six children. Of the 71 survivors, eight migrants required further medical attention and were referred to a hospital, while the remaining 63 received first aid and minor treatment, including trauma care and wound dressing from the on-site mobile clinic.
Despite ongoing search and rescue operations, significant challenges persist due to a shortage of operational patrol boats, a situation further complicated by the recent conflict. Local community members, including fishermen, have played a crucial role in the recovery efforts, assisting in laying the deceased to rest at Ayn-Bamaabed cemetery.
Nevertheless, 140 individuals are still missing, with efforts underway to explore additional search and rescue options as more bodies continue to wash ashore in various locations.
This tragedy follows two separate shipwrecks along the same route on the coast of Djibouti, which claimed the lives of at least 62 migrants. IOM says since 2014 it has recorded 1,860 migrant deaths and disappearances along the Eastern Route from the East and Horn of Africa to the Gulf countries, including 480 due to drowning.
The Eastern Horn of Africa to Yemen is one of the world’s busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes, frequented by hundreds of thousands of migrants, most of whom undertake irregular journeys. Often relying on smugglers to navigate the journey, migrants face increased risks, including human trafficking, during the treacherous boat journey to Yemen’s shores.
Despite the ongoing conflict in Yemen, thousands of migrants continue to transit through the country, aiming to reach the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. In 2023, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) observed over 97,200 migrant arrivals in Yemen, surpassing the previous year’s figures of just over 73,000.