Tragedy at Sea: Over 140 Ethiopian Migrants Presumed Dead in Yemen Shipwreck

Edited By: Tendai Zola

A boat carrying 154 Ethiopian migrants capsized early Sunday off the coast of Yemen, leaving at least 142 people presumed dead, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Only 12 survivors have been rescued following the disaster, which occurred in the Gulf of Aden. As of now, more than 68 bodies have been recovered — most of them found washed ashore near Khanfa in western Yemen, according to Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s chief in Yemen.

The Abyan security directorate reported a large-scale search-and-rescue operation underway, describing it as one of the deadliest incidents involving migrants in recent years.

Every year, tens of thousands of migrants — primarily from Ethiopia — risk the dangerous journey from the Horn of Africa to the Gulf states, transiting through war-torn Yemen. This perilous passage, known as the Eastern Route, is not only the most traveled African migration corridor but also the deadliest.

Migrants using this route often face harrowing conditions including violence, abuse, and exploitation, according to the Mixed Migration Centre. The latest tragedy comes just months after 186 Africans went missing in March when four boats capsized between Djibouti and Yemen.

With this incident, the death toll for 2024 has risen to 550, making it the deadliest year ever recorded for migrants heading to Yemen.

Experts warn that Yemen’s ongoing civil war and governance vacuum have fostered a lawless environment, allowing human smuggling and trafficking networks to operate unchecked — further endangering vulnerable migrants.