At least 139 individuals, including children, lost their lives when a vessel carrying over 300 migrants overturned near Djibouti’s coast in East Africa, reported the International Organization for Migration on Sunday.
The confirmed death toll covers those laid to rest by Djibouti’s authorities. Additional casualties, buried by the migrants themselves, are pending verification before being officially counted, as stated by Alexandre Coissac, the IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti.
Coissac expressed distress over the anonymous mass burials, highlighting the human aspect of the tragedy. He revealed that the migrants embarked on the ill-fated journey on the evening of October 8, with the boat sinking shortly after departure due to overcrowding near the shore.
Despite local authorities’ efforts, they faced overwhelming challenges as numerous bodies washed ashore simultaneously. Surviving migrants are being transported to the IOM rescue center in Obock for medical treatment and psychological assistance after the harrowing experience of ingesting seawater.
During a visit to the shipwreck site, Coissac noted the shock and difficulty in communicating with survivors. Some already know of their family members’ demise, while others were permitted to use phones to inform loved ones of their safety.
Tragically, 84 individuals are still unaccounted for in one of the deadliest incidents on the perilous migration route from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula.
The vessel, en route from Djibouti to Yemen, capsized between Thursday night and Friday morning, carrying predominantly Ethiopian nationals who were among the 80-plus survivors, according to the IOM.
The UN migration agency, based in Geneva, disclosed that 305 passengers were onboard, raising concerns that the death toll may climb further.
Personal belongings, such as shoes likely belonging to the migrants, were observed on a beach in a video shared by the IOM. Rescue operations persist as hopes dwindle for the missing individuals.
The IOM emphasized the continuous migration flow from the Horn of Africa to Gulf nations despite escalating conflicts in Yemen, underscoring the risks faced by migrants seeking better prospects.
Coissac stressed the tragic loss of life, urging a focus on establishing safe and legal pathways to prevent further tragedies along migration routes.
As conflicts intensify in Yemen, recent weeks have seen aid provided to over 2,000 Yemenis in Djibouti. This aid contrasts with the direction of the migrants lost in the shipwreck, highlighting the dangers migrants encounter pursuing opportunities in the region.
The IOM’s data from the Missing Migrants Project revealed over 900 migrant fatalities or disappearances along this route last year, emphasizing the urgent need for safer migration strategies to save lives.
IOM’s director general, Amy Pope, emphasized the necessity of proactive governmental and donor actions to prevent future disasters, asserting that prioritizing safe and legal migration avenues is crucial in safeguarding lives.