IOM: 123 African Migrants Perish in Four Shipwrecks off Yemen Coast in Four Months

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Monday, September 16, 2024, that 123 African migrants died in four separate boat capsizings and sinkings off the coast of Yemen during the second quarter of 2024.

The report, seen by "Barran Press", titled "Overview of Migration from April to July 2024," states that "multiple boatwrecks off the coasts of Yemen and Djibouti have highlighted the perilous nature of the route between the Horn of Africa and Yemen."

The report details four separate tragedies:

• April 4th: A boat carrying 66 migrants capsized off the coast of Djibouti, resulting in the deaths of at least 38 people.
• April: Another boat carrying at least 77 migrants, departing from Huj, reportedly capsized, leading to the deaths of 24 migrants.
• June: A boat carrying 260 migrants capsized off the coast of Shabwa, resulting in the deaths of at least 49 people, including 31 women and six children.
• July 26th: A boat capsized off the coast of Taiz, leading to the deaths of 12 migrants and the disappearance of four others.

The IOM emphasized that the recurrence of these tragedies during the period covered by the report highlights the risks faced by migrants along the route between the Horn of Africa and Yemen.

The organization further stated that "from April to July, the IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix recorded 6,239 migrants arriving in Yemen. The majority of these migrants, 97%, departed from the Bari region of Somalia and arrived in Shabwa."

The report serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants seeking a better life, and the urgent need for international cooperation to address the root causes of migration and ensure the safety of those undertaking perilous journeys.