Not less than 13 folks have died when a migrant boat sank off the coast of Yemen, leaving 14 others lacking, a UN company stated on Sunday (25 August), within the newest catastrophe on the harmful migration route.
“13 folks have tragically misplaced their lives and 14 others are nonetheless lacking after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Taez province in Yemen on Tuesday,” the Worldwide Group for Migration (IOM) stated.
“The boat had left Djibouti with 25 Ethiopian migrants and two Yemeni residents on board,” the UN company stated.
“Eleven males and two ladies had been amongst these confirmed lifeless, whereas search operations proceed to find these lacking, together with the Yemeni captain and his assistant,” IOM stated.
He stated the reason for the sinking stays unclear.
“This newest tragedy is a stark reminder of the hazards migrants face on this route,” stated Matt Huber, appearing head of IOM’s mission in Yemen.
Tens of 1000’s of migrants set out from the Horn of Africa annually, in search of to flee battle, pure disasters or poor financial prospects, crusing throughout the Purple Sea in an try to achieve the oil-rich Gulf.
Learn additionally: Not less than 49 migrants lifeless and 140 lacking off Yemeni coast
IOM recorded greater than 97,200 migrant arrivals in Yemen in 2023, surpassing the figures from the earlier yr.
The newest shipwreck follows related incidents in June and July off the coast of Yemen, which left dozens lifeless.
Migrants arriving in Yemen usually face heightened threats to their security because the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest nation has been mired in civil conflict for practically a decade.
Many are attempting to achieve Saudi Arabia and different Gulf Arab international locations the place they will discover employment as handbook or home staff.