At least 45 people have died and many more are missing after two migrant boats sank off the coast of Djibouti, the United Nations’ migration agency (IOM) reported on Tuesday. The boats, carrying 310 people, had set off from Yemen, a common departure point for migrants hoping to reach the Gulf countries.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) confirmed that 32 survivors have been rescued so far, with the Djibouti coastguard and the French navy assisting in an ongoing search-and-rescue mission. The disaster occurred approximately 150 metres off a beach near the Khor Angar region, on Djibouti’s northwest coast.
Images shared by the IOM showed rows of white body bags lined up on the beach as recovery efforts continued. “We remain committed to finding the missing persons and ensuring the safety of the survivors,” the IOM said in a statement on X.
Every year, tens of thousands of migrants undertake the perilous journey across the Red Sea from the Horn of Africa, fleeing conflict, natural disasters, and economic hardship in search of better opportunities in Gulf nations. Many hope to find work in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries as labourers or domestic workers.
However, the journey is fraught with dangers, particularly for those who pass through Yemen, a country devastated by nearly a decade of civil war. This latest tragedy follows an incident in April when 24 people, including children, drowned after a boat capsized near the Djibouti town of Obock.
The IOM has described the Eastern Route as “one of the busiest, most complex, and dangerous” migration routes in the world. Most migrants making this journey are from Ethiopia, with a sm
