Djibouti Boat Capsize: Tragic Loss of Life with Children Among the Dead
BBC News reports on a devastating incident where at least 139 migrants, including 15 children, lost their lives after a boat capsized off the coast of Djibouti, with 84 still missing, according to the UN's migration office (IOM).
The vessel, carrying 305 people from Djibouti to Yemen, sank near the port town of Obock on Thursday night, with only 82 survivors rescued.
Alexandre Coissac, IOM's Djibouti mission chief, described the tragedy as a "stark reminder" of the dangers faced by migrants seeking better lives abroad. Tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa attempt this perilous journey annually, driven by poverty, insecurity, and climate change impacts.
The latest incident follows a series of similar tragic events:
- Revised toll: The IOM initially reported 109 deaths but updated it to 139 after recovering 30 more bodies.
- Surviving migrants: All Ethiopian nationals, they are receiving medical care and support at the Obock response center.
- Increasing trends: Since September 10th, over 20,000 movements from Ethiopia to Djibouti have been recorded by the IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix. In 2025, more than 900 migrants died or went missing on this route, a 18% increase compared to previous years.
- Regional instability: The conflict in Yemen, where thousands of Yemenis have fled to Djibouti, adds to the region's volatile situation.