Dozens missing and over 45 dead as boats capsize near Djibouti’s coast | Migration Tragedy

At least 45 migrants died and dozens are missing after two boats carrying refugees and migrants from Africa sank off the coast of Djibouti, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The boats, carrying a total of 310 people, left Yemen before sinking in the Red Sea. So far, 32 survivors have been found, with a joint rescue effort by Djibouti’s coastguard resulting in the rescue of 115 survivors.
The Eastern Route, which crosses the Red Sea, is known as one of the busiest and most dangerous migration routes in the world. Tens of thousands of people seeking a better future leave Africa each year to reach Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Human smugglers pack refugees and migrants onto overcrowded vessels, exposing them to the risk of drowning, health risks, violence, and exploitation by traffickers.
In April and June of the same year, similar tragedies occurred off the coast of Djibouti, resulting in the deaths of 38 and 49 people respectively. The IOM stated that nearly 400,000 people took the Eastern Route crossing in 2023, with almost 700 dying or going missing that year. Since 2014, nearly 1,000 people have died or gone missing on the route.
The organization remains committed to finding the missing persons and ensuring the safety of survivors. The tragic incidents highlight the desperate circumstances faced by those escaping conflict, political violence, and climate change in search of a better life.

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