A boat carrying around 157 migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen’s southern Abyan province on Sunday, leaving at least 68 people dead and dozens more missing, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed this week.
The vessel was believed to be carrying primarily Ethiopian nationals and sank in poor weather conditions during an attempted crossing of the Gulf of Aden, a key but perilous route for migrants from the Horn of Africa seeking work in Gulf countries. Just 12 survivors have been rescued, while more than 70 people remain unaccounted for, according to IOM Yemen chief Abdusattor Esoev.
Yemeni security officials said a large-scale search-and-rescue operation is ongoing. Bodies have been recovered across a wide stretch of shoreline in Abyan province, as authorities and humanitarian agencies continue efforts to locate missing passengers.
“This tragedy is a grim reminder of the dangers faced by migrants who embark on these desperate journeys,” said Esoev. “The route across the Gulf of Aden is one of the busiest and deadliest migration corridors in the world.”
The IOM has warned that smuggling networks have become increasingly reckless, often sending overcrowded and poorly equipped boats into treacherous sea conditions to avoid coastal patrols. Recent reports from Migrant Response Points in Yemen indicate smugglers are knowingly putting lives at risk to evade authorities.
Despite the danger, the journey remains common for migrants from Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, many of whom hope to reach Saudi Arabia or other Gulf states for employment. In 2024 alone, over 60,000 migrants have arrived in Yemen, despite the country’s ongoing civil conflict and lack of infrastructure.
The IOM has called on governments in the region and the international community to strengthen legal migration pathways to reduce the reliance on smugglers and prevent further loss of life.
“We are advocating for member states to enhance regular migration channels,” Esoev said. “This is essential to protect vulnerable people from exploitation and avoid tragedies like this one.”
The latest incident follows a similar disaster in March, when two boats carrying more than 180 migrants sank off Yemen’s Dhubab district, with only two crew members rescued. Over the past decade, the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project has documented more than 3,400 deaths or disappearances along the Horn of Africa–Yemen route — including 1,400 from drowning alone.
Yemen itself remains mired in conflict, with the Houthi rebel group controlling much of the northwestern region since 2014. The ongoing civil war has further complicated the already dangerous conditions facing migrants transiting through the country.
