Schiffsunglück: Mindestens 139 Migranten sterben bei Bootsunglück

A devastating shipwreck off the coast of Djibouti has claimed the lives of at least 139 migrants, including 15 children, according to United Nations reports. A total of 84 passengers from the capsized boat remain missing, as stated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The search for victims and potential survivors is ongoing.

Over 80 individuals survived the tragic incident. All the victims are Ethiopian nationals, as confirmed by the UN. The IOM's Chief, Amy Pope, called for secure and legal access routes for migrants in light of the tragedy. "No one boards such a boat unless they believe there is no other safe way," she stated. "We cannot continue to accept such deaths as normal."

Alexandre Coissac, head of the IOM mission in Djibouti, expressed condolences to the survivors and families who lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives. "Our teams are working together with local authorities on the ground to provide emergency assistance. This tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the dangers migrants face on this migration route seeking economic opportunities," he added.

Many migrants travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with Djibouti serving as the starting point of the eastern migration route across the Horn of Africa, through the Bab al-Mandab strait into the Arabian Peninsula. Most migrants wait in Obock after the perilous journey across the desert to be organized by smugglers for passage on fishing boats.

Just a few days ago, the IOM reported that over 20,000 migrants from Ethiopia arrived in Djibouti within three weeks. Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, currently faces the threat of a new civil war following recent conflicts in the Tigray region. People from Somalia also attempt to reach Djibouti, mainly heading to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, or Oman in search of work and stability.

The dangerous journey has resulted in over a thousand deaths since 2025, with the number of migrants attempting the route increasing by 18 percent. A separate shipwreck in March 2026 left nine people dead and 45 others missing.