Wrecked boats in Obock Djibouti. Photo by IOM Olivia Headon b 2
Wrecked boats on the beach in Obock, Djibouti. Image (IOM News.)
(The Post News) – Tragedy struck off the coast of Djibouti as a migrant boat capsized near Obock, claiming the lives of at least 24 people, with 20 still missing. The boat, carrying around 77 migrants, including children, met with disaster on Monday, marking the second fatal accident in two weeks along Djibouti’s Eastern Migration Route from Africa to the Arabian Peninsula.
The survivors, numbering 33, are currently receiving care at an International Organization for Migration (IOM) center in Obock, with local authorities leading search and rescue efforts in hopes of finding more survivors. This incident follows a similar disaster in the same area earlier this month, where another boat carrying mostly Ethiopian migrants sank, resulting in a death toll of at least 38.
Tanja Pacifico, the head of the IOM mission in Djibouti, highlighted the dangerous journey faced by migrants, including children, women, and men, who take irregular routes. She emphasized the immediate importance of creating safer and legal paths for migration.
Reports suggest that those on board were Ethiopian migrants attempting to return from Yemen to the country after unsuccessful attempts to reach Saudi Arabia. Many African migrants depart through Djibouti annually, aiming for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations in search of better opportunities, fleeing conflict, natural disasters, or seeking economic improvement.
However, many face dire circumstances, with thousands stranded in Yemen enduring harsh conditions, according to the IOM. The organisation’s Displacement Tracking Matrix reveals a significant increase in migrants leaving Yemen for Djibouti this year, attributed to the severe challenges in Yemen and efforts to reach Saudi Arabia.
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