At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, have died after a boat carrying 305 people capsized off the coast of east Africa, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday. The vessel was travelling from Djibouti to Yemen when it overturned on Thursday night or Friday morning, according to the IOM.
Victims and Survivors
The dead include 52 men, 42 women and 15 children. More than 80 people survived the accident, while at least 116 others remain missing, the IOM reported.
Migration Route Risks
Tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa travel through Djibouti and across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait towards Gulf countries, seeking safety and economic opportunities, the IOM said in a statement. That movement has continued despite violence in Yemen.
“This is a devastating loss of life,” said Alexandre Coissac, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti. “This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities.”
