Schiffsunglück: 109 Migranten sterben bei Bootsunglück auf Weg nach Jemen

A shipwreck off the coast of Djibouti claimed the lives of at least 109 migrants, according to United Nations estimates. Among the deceased were 15 children. Over 116 passengers from the detained vessel, en route from Djibouti to Yemen, remain missing, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported. More than 80 survivors emerged from the disaster.

All victims are Ethiopian nationals, reported Alexandre Coissac, head of the IOM mission in Djibouti. "This is a devastating loss of human life. Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or still have no news of their relatives," Coissac remarked. "Our teams are on the ground, together with local authorities, delivering emergency aid.

This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers migrants face on this migration route in pursuit of economic opportunities."

Ethiopians seek work in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with Djibouti as the starting point of the so-called eastern migration route across the Horn of Africa, through the Bab al-Mandab strait into the Arabian Peninsula. In recent days, the IOM reported that over 20,000 Ethiopians arrived in Djibouti in just three weeks.

Many also attempt to flee from Somalia, primarily to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, or Oman, where they hope for work and greater stability. According to the IOM, the sea crossing is fraught with significant dangers. Migrants who reach Yemen face risks such as violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, exploitation, and human trafficking.

The "Missing Migrants" project of the IOM recorded more than 900 migrant deaths or disappearances on this route in 2025, while the number of would-be migrants increased by 18 percent. Another shipwreck in March 2026 claimed nine lives, with 45 others still missing.