139 migrants die after boat from Djibouti to Yemen capsizes

DJIBOUTI  –  At least 139 migrants, in­cluding at least 15 children, have died and around 84 are missing after a boat carrying more than 300 people capsized while sail­ing from Djibouti to Yemen, the United Nations’ Inter­national Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday. The boat, carrying 305 people, capsized near Guhere, north of Obock a port town in Djibouti dur­ing the night of Oct 8-9, the IOM said, citing survivor ac­counts. Around 82 people survived the shipwreck, the statement said. A spokes­person for the Ethiopian government did not imme­diately respond to requests for comment. Photographs shared by the UN agency showed worn-out sandals and sneakers washed up on the shore. “Our teams are on the ground alongside local authorities to provide emer­gency assistance,” said IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti Alexandre Coissac. “This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by mi­grants along this migration corridor as they seek eco­nomic opportunities,” Cois­sac said. Djiboutian authori­ties are continuing search and rescue operations, the IOM statement said, adding that local authorities are also providing medical care to survivors and arranging burials for the deceased. The Djibouti government could not be immediately reached for comment. The migrants were heading to Yemen, with the hope of eventually making it to wealthier Gulf nations, even as Yemeni nationals themselves flee their country, which is ex­periencing the most serious escalation in fighting be­tween Saudi Arabia-backed government forces and the Houthis since a UN-bro­kered truce in 2022.