DUBAI — August 2025
A migrant boat carrying around 150 people capsized off the coast of Abyan province in southern Yemen, leaving at least 27 people confirmed dead and more than 100 still missing, according to local security sources cited by AFP.
Authorities are conducting an extensive search and recovery operation along the Yemeni coastline, where the bodies of migrants — mainly of Ethiopian origin (Oromos) — have been washing ashore.
“At this stage, the deaths of 27 people are confirmed. Their bodies have been recovered, but searches are ongoing,” said one local security official.
Another source confirmed the same death toll and estimated the vessel was carrying approximately 150 migrants when it sank.
🛥️ Migrant Smuggling Continues Despite Conflict
Abyan’s security directorate said in an official statement that the victims had been attempting to enter Yemen illegally via smuggling routes frequently used by migrants fleeing violence or poverty in the Horn of Africa.
“Smuggler boats regularly arrive in our region,” said a police source. “Many bodies have been found across various beaches, suggesting that more remain lost at sea.”
Despite more than a decade of conflict in Yemen — ongoing since 2014 — the country remains a key transit hub for irregular migration from East Africa, especially Ethiopia, where ethnic violence and economic hardship continue to displace thousands.
🌍 A Dangerous Journey Across the Bab Al-Mandab
Migrants often cross the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, a narrow but perilous waterway between Djibouti and Yemen, which also serves as a major route for global trade and human trafficking. The journey is typically made in overcrowded and unsafe vessels, making drownings tragically common.
The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) has repeatedly warned of worsening humanitarian conditions for migrants stranded in Yemen, who frequently fall victim to exploitation, violence, and detention by traffickers or armed groups.
📊 Human Cost of a Humanitarian Crisis
-
Confirmed dead: 27 migrants (recovered)
-
Still missing: Over 100
-
Estimated onboard: 150 migrants
-
Origin of migrants: Mostly Ethiopian (Oromo)
-
Destination: Southern Yemen (Abyan province)
This latest tragedy highlights the urgent need for international action to address unsafe migration routes and protect vulnerable populations forced into high-risk crossings due to poverty, conflict, or repression.
0 comments:
Post a Comment