Tragedy Off Yemen’s Coast: Migrant Boat Capsizes, Leaving 68 Dead and 74 Missing

Addis Abeba,Ethiopia ,August 4, 2025

Latest Shipwreck Claims Dozens of Lives. A boat carrying 154 Ethiopian migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen’s southern province of Abyan early Sunday, killing at least 68 people and leaving 74 others missing, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) . Only 12 survivors have been rescued so far, while search operations continue for the missing, who are feared dead .

The vessel sank in the Gulf of Aden amid bad weather, marking yet another deadly incident along one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes. Bodies of 54 victims washed ashore in Khanfar district, while 14 others were recovered and taken to a morgue in Zinjibar, Abyan’s provincial capital .

A Perilous Journey for African Migrants

Yemen remains a critical transit point for migrants from the Horn of Africa—primarily Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritrea—who risk their lives seeking employment in wealthier Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates . Despite Yemen’s decade-long civil war, over 60,000 migrants arrived in the country in 2024, though this marks a decline from 97,200 in 2023, likely due to increased maritime patrols .

The IOM has repeatedly warned that smugglers are becoming more reckless, often forcing migrants onto overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels and ignoring weather warnings to evade authorities . In March 2025, four boats capsized near Yemen and Djibouti, leaving 186 missing and only two survivors .

A Deadly Migration Route

The Eastern Route—spanning the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden—has claimed thousands of lives over the past decade. The IOM’s Missing Migrants Project has recorded over 3,400 deaths and disappearances since 2014, with at least 1,400 due to drowning . Last year alone, 558 migrants perished on this route, most in shipwrecks .

Migrants who survive the journey often face further dangers in Yemen, including exploitation, forced labor, detention, and abuse by armed groups . Many become stranded with no means to continue their journey or return home, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis .

International Action

Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Yemen, emphasized the urgent need for safer migration pathways to prevent further loss of life. « We advocate for member states to enhance regular migration channels so people don’t fall prey to smugglers and take these deadly journeys, » he told the BBC .

The IOM’s 2025 Yemen Crisis Response Plan seeks $164 million to provide emergency aid, protection, and voluntary return assistance for stranded migrants, but funding shortages continue to hinder relief efforts . Meanwhile, climate change and environmental degradation in the Horn of Africa are worsening displacement, pushing more people toward dangerous migration routes . Emebet Asefa Correspondent ,Addis Abeba Ethiopia