Children among 109 dead after boat capsizes off Djibouti, UN says

At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, lost their lives when a boat capsized off the coast of Djibouti, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The vessel, carrying 350 people, sank near Obock port town on Thursday night, leaving dozens still missing. Around 80 survivors were rescued by authorities.

IOM's Djibouti mission chief, Alexandre Coissac, described the tragedy as a "stark reminder" of the risks migrants face while seeking a better life elsewhere. Bodies of 52 men, 42 women, nine girls, and six boys were recovered. Coissac expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and conveyed his thoughts to both survivors and families of those lost.

Local authorities are organizing burials for the deceased, while survivors, all Ethiopian nationals, are receiving medical care. Despite ongoing civil war in Yemen and instability in the region, migrants continue to risk their lives crossing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to reach the country, driven by poverty, insecurity, and climate change impacts.

Since September, IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix has documented over 20,000 movements from Ethiopia to Djibouti. The agency is providing aid to 64 survivors at its Obock response center, including healthcare and family contact support. IOM is collaborating closely with local authorities to prevent further tragedies at sea and on land.

Since 2025, more than 900 migrants have died or gone missing on this route, with a 18% increase in attempts. In March 2026, nine people died and 45 were missing in a similar incident.