At least 56 migrants died and 132 are missing after their boat sank off Yemen’s coast on August 3, with most victims believed to be from Ethiopia. The boat was packed with 200 people when it went down near Shuqrah in Yemen’s Abyan region. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) called it another tragic reminder of how deadly this migration route has become.
The path from the Horn of Africa to Yemen kills hundreds of people every year. IOM has counted over 350 migrant deaths along this route just since January, and the real number is probably much higher. Most are Ethiopians running from terrible conditions at home, trying to get to Gulf countries where they hope to find work.
“Every life lost is a powerful reminder of the human toll of irregular migration,” IOM said Tuesday. The agency thanked local officials for responding quickly but said way more needs to happen to stop these disasters. Survivors need help right now while authorities work to find bodies and tell families what happened.
This latest tragedy shows how smugglers cram migrants into boats that shouldn’t be on the water. These criminals make money off desperate people and don’t care if they die. Most migrants can’t swim and don’t get life jackets when the boats break apart.
IOM wants countries to work together and create legal ways for people to migrate so they don’t have to risk death at sea. The agency is pushing for better rescue operations, more help for survivors, and programs to get people home safely. But unless the world tackles why people flee – poverty, war, no opportunities – these deadly trips won’t stop.
