At least 68 Ethiopian migrants have lost their lives after a boat carrying over 150 people capsized off the southern coast of Yemen, according to officials and humanitarian sources. More than 70 others remain missing, while only 12 survivors have been found so far, as rescue efforts continue in the Abyan governorate.
The boat was reportedly en route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen, a route often used by migrants aiming to reach Saudi Arabia and other wealthy Gulf nations in search of work and a better life. Despite Yemen’s ongoing civil war, thousands continue to use the country as a transit corridor.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) noted that all the individuals on board were believed to be Ethiopian nationals. Many of the victims’ bodies have washed ashore, prompting local authorities to launch a large-scale search and rescue operation.
The IOM’s Yemen chief, Abdusattor Esoev, confirmed the survival of 12 people and highlighted the growing dangers migrants face on the perilous route across the Gulf of Aden. Yemen, while gripped by a decade-long conflict between Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized government, remains one of the busiest and deadliest migration crossings in the world.
According to IOM data, more than 60,000 migrants made their way to Yemen in 2024, the majority originating from Ethiopia, a country plagued by poverty, unemployment, and the lingering effects of the conflict in Tigray. In addition, drought and food insecurity across the Horn of Africa are pushing more people to leave their homelands.
This tragedy adds to a growing list of deadly incidents involving migrants taking risky sea voyages. Human rights groups have previously accused armed groups in Yemen of committing abuses against African migrants, including killings and forced expulsions.
Yemeni authorities, with support from humanitarian agencies, continue efforts to recover the missing and provide aid to the survivors.