Dozens of Ethiopian Migrants Drown in Boat Accident off Djibouti Coast

At least 21 migrants have died and 23 others are missing after a boat carrying 77 people, including children, overturned off the shore of Djibouti on Tuesday. The boat was traveling from Yemen to Djibouti across the Red Sea when the accident occurred near the area of Godoria in northeastern Djibouti.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 33 people were rescued and returned to Ethiopia. "This is the second such incident in less than two weeks," said Lalini Veerassamy, the head of the IOM's Djiboutian office. "Another boat capsizing on April 2 left 38 migrants dead."

The Ethiopian ambassador to Djibouti, Abdulaziz Mohammed, expressed condolences and condemned the hazardous unauthorized travel from Djibouti to the Middle East, which has resulted in the loss of many Ethiopian lives. "Illegal travel from Djibouti to the Middle East is extremely dangerous and has resulted in the loss of many Ethiopian lives," Mohammed said.

Why this matters: This latest tragedy highlights the treacherous path undertaken by tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa, particularly Ethiopia and Somalia, who attempt to cross the coast from Djibouti to Yemen each year in search of work in Gulf countries. The dangerous route exposes migrants to harsh conditions, exploitation by traffickers, and the risk of drowning at sea.

Data from the Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti shows that more than 200,000 Ethiopian migrants make hazardous land and sea trips from the coast of Djibouti and the Gulf of Aden each year to reach destinations in the Middle East. At least 189 Ethiopian nationals have died off the coast of Djibouti in the past five years, according to embassy figures.

The IOM is supporting local authorities with search and rescue operations for the missing migrants. Veerassamy expressed concern over the rising number of shipwrecks in the region and emphasized the urgent need to address the humanitarian needs of migrants along this dangerous route. The IOM says every year, tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa leave the continent via Djibouti in the hope of finding work in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf nations, but many fail and thousands are stranded in Yemen facing extremely harsh conditions.

Key Takeaways

• At least 21 migrants died after a boat capsized off Djibouti's coast.
• This is the second such incident in less than two weeks, with 38 migrants killed earlier.
• Thousands of migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia attempt the dangerous sea crossing to Yemen each year.
• Over 200,000 Ethiopian migrants make hazardous land and sea trips from Djibouti annually.
• The IOM is supporting search and rescue operations and addressing the humanitarian needs of migrants.