Tragic Shipwreck Off Djibouti Claims Over 139 Lives
At least 139 individuals, including children, tragically lost their lives when a boat carrying over 300 migrants capsized near Djibouti, as reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Sunday. Alexandre Coissac, IOM chief of mission in Djibouti, expressed condolences, stating, “This is a devastating loss of life. Our thoughts are with survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives.”
Official counts only include those buried by Djibouti authorities. Others buried by migrants themselves will be verified and added later. Coissac shared, “What is terrible is that they were buried with no names, in a common grave, like in a war situation. They all have a mother, a father, and we may never learn what happened.”
The ship sank shortly after the migrants boarded on Oct. 8, due to overcrowding. “The local authorities did their best,” Coissac noted, “but they were overwhelmed with all the bodies that kept coming at once towards the shore.”
Among the recovered bodies were nine girls and six boys. More than 80 survivors, all Ethiopian nationals, were found. IOM released video footage showing the aftermath, including the capsized vessel and personal items like clothing on the shore.
A rescue team prepared to recover a body on a beach near Guhere, north of Obock, Djibouti. Survivors received medical assistance and psychological support at the IOM rescue center in Obock, as they were in shock. Coissac stated, “I tried to talk to some of them but it’s very difficult.” Some migrants were informed of family members’ deaths, while others used phones to alert loved ones of their survival.
At least 84 individuals remain missing, marking one of the deadliest shipwrecks on the journey from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. The migrants were traveling from Djibouti to Yemen, seeking opportunities in Gulf nations.
IOM warned that the death toll might rise, as the boat carried 305 passengers. Video shared by IOM depicted personal items left by migrants on the beach while rescue work continued.
Tens of thousands from the Horn of Africa migrate annually through Djibouti and across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Gulf countries in pursuit of safety and employment, despite escalating Yemen conflict. Coissac remarked, “This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities.”
Recently, 2,000 Yemenis have received aid in Djibouti due to heightened Yemen conflict between Saudi-backed government and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, which contrasts with the migrant movement towards Yemen seeking work opportunities.
The IOM’s Missing Migrants Project noted over 900 migrants died or went missing along the route last year, amidst an 18% increase in migration attempts. Earlier, IOM reported 53 dead or missing after a Mediterranean capsizing near Libya, with only two survivors.
IOM Director-General Amy Pope declared, “No one gets into a boat like that unless they believe there is no other safe way. We cannot keep treating these deaths as normal. Safe and legal pathways save lives. I am asking governments and donors to act before the next boat goes down.”