At least 68 African migrants have died and 74 are missing after a boat carrying 154 Ethiopians capsized off Yemen’s southern coast on Sunday, 3 August, according to the United Nations’ migration agency.

The vessel sank in the Gulf of Aden, near Abyan province, with only 12 people surviving. Bodies were recovered along the shorelines of Khanfar and Zinjibar, while authorities continue their search and rescue efforts under difficult conditions.

Abdusattor Esoev, head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Yemen, highlighted that authorities in the region must co-operate to strengthen legal means to ensure people rely solely on dangerous travel methods.

The route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen remains one of the most dangerous in the world. Migrants, often fleeing poverty and instability in Ethiopia and Somalia, attempt to reach Gulf states via overcrowded boats operated by smugglers.

Despite Yemen’s ongoing civil war, it continues to be a major transit hub. Over 60 000 migrants arrived in 2024 alone, though numbers have declined from last year due to tighter patrols.

According to the IOM, hundreds have died on this journey in recent years, with more than 2 000 reported missing over the past decade.

Image Credit: Source