15 Children Among 139 Dead After Migrant Boat Sinks off Djibouti

A boat carrying over 300 migrants capsized off the coast of Djibouti last week, resulting in at least 139 deaths, including 15 children, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM). The vessel, traveling from Djibouti to Yemen, was found near Guhere, north of Obock, during the night of October 8-9.

Alexandre Coissac, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti, stated that the death toll only includes those buried by authorities in Djibouti, as others were buried by migrants themselves. The IOM is assisting 64 survivors at its Migrant Response Centre in Obock, offering healthcare, psychological support, temporary shelter, food, and protection services. Local authorities are providing medical care and arranging burials for the deceased.

Among the 109 recovered bodies were 52 men, 42 women, and 15 children. Djiboutian authorities are continuing search-and-rescue operations for the remaining 82 missing migrants, all of whom were Ethiopian nationals. The IOM is providing services to 64 survivors, while local authorities offer medical care and support for burials.

Coissac emphasized the dangers facing migrants along this route, noting that the disaster highlights the risks migrants face while seeking economic opportunities in Gulf countries. Factors driving people to attempt the journey include poverty, insecurity, and climate change, with tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa traveling through Djibouti annually.

The IOM warns that sea crossings remain among the deadliest migration routes globally, with thousands of deaths recorded in the Mediterranean and West African Atlantic routes. The Djibouti to Yemen route has also proven deadly, with over 900 migrants dying or going missing in 2025 alone. The IOM urges governments and donors to establish safe and legal pathways to prevent further tragedies at sea.