Djibouti Reports 139 Deaths in Boat Accident
At least 139 people have died and many more are missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Djibouti, with victims mostly being Ethiopian nationals.
A tragic boat accident has resulted in the loss of at least 139 lives, including 15 children, according to official counts from Djibouti authorities. However, this number does not account for migrants who have been buried by their own people, whose bodies will only be added to the tally once verified by authorities.
The victims were mostly Ethiopian nationals who had boarded a ship in the evening of October, but unfortunately, the vessel capsized. Among those recovered from the wreckage are nine girls and six boys, highlighting the devastating impact on families affected by this tragedy.
Authorities have confirmed that over 80 survivors of the shipwreck are being transported to an IOM rescue center in Obock for medical assistance and psychological support. The migrants were reportedly brought to the shore in a state of shock after swallowing sea water during the ordeal.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) center has become a hub of somber news for families of migrants who attempted to cross the Arabian Peninsula from the Horn of Africa. Some individuals in the center have already received devastating updates about loved ones lost at sea.
In an effort to provide some comfort, others were given access to phones to call family members back home and inform them that they are alive. This gesture has likely brought solace to many who had been anxiously awaiting news from their relatives.
The scale of the tragedy is still being assessed, with at least 84 people reported missing after the boat capsized on its journey from Djibouti to Yemen.
Rescue efforts are ongoing as concerns grow for those still missing after the tragic incident.
The journey that ended in disaster is part of a larger migration trend, where tens of thousands of people from the Horn of Africa travel through Djibouti and across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to reach Gulf countries. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), this movement continues despite escalating conflict in Yemen.
Fighting in Yemen has forced thousands of locals to seek refuge elsewhere, with at least 2,000 Yemenis receiving aid in Djibouti in recent weeks alone.
The perilous journey across the Mediterranean has taken a devastating toll on migrants in recent years. According to the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Missing Migrants Project, over 900 migrants lost their lives or went unaccounted for along this route last year alone.
A significant surge in migrant numbers was recorded in the same period, with an increase of 18% compared to previous years. This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the risks faced by those seeking refuge elsewhere, as highlighted by IOM's Director-General Amy Pope: "No one gets into a boat like that unless they believe there is no other safe way."
Facts based on reporting originally published by CBS News World.
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