13 African migrants killed, others lost due to boat sinking accident off Yemeni coast

SANAA, Aug. 25 (YPA) – At least 13 people were killed, while others are still missing, after a boat carrying Ethiopian migrants sank off the Yemeni coast.

A report issued by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Sunday said, “13 people were tragically killed and 14 others are still missing after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Taiz province.”

The boat, which was carrying 25 Ethiopian migrants along with Yemeni citizens, left Djibouti towards Yemen before it sank near Thu Bab District, according to field reports from IOM.

The report stated that the bodies of 11 men and two women were recovered along the coast of Bab al-Mandab near Thu Bab district, while search operations are ongoing in the hope of finding the remaining missing migrants and the Yemeni captain and his assistant.

The Acting Head of the IOM’s mission in Yemen, Matt Hopper, said “this latest tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers migrants face on this route.”

Hopper called for working collectively to ensure that migrants are protected and supported throughout their journeys, reiterating the organization’s commitment to continuing efforts to prevent such incidents and protect vulnerable migrants, as he said.

The same location witnessed a similar incident in late July, which resulted in the killing of 12 migrants and the loss of four others.

The number of migrants killed as a result of boat sinking accidents has risen to 306 migrants, most of them Ethiopians, since the beginning of this year 2024.

YPA