On Friday,the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 186 migrants are missing following the capsizing of four boats off the coasts of Yemen and Djibouti on Thursday evening. The IOM is working to confirm these alarming reports, which were announced in a statement on their X platform.  

The treacherous migration route from the eastern Horn of Africa to Yemen has proven deadly, with the IOM recording 558 deaths along this path in 2024 alone. The organization stressed the critical need for immediate action to prevent further loss of life.  

Yemen continues to serve as a key transit point for migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. Most are fleeing hardship in hopes of reaching Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, which borders Yemen to the north.