At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, lost their lives when a boat carrying over 300 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti, as reported by the United Nations’ migration agency.
The vessel, which was en route from Djibouti to Yemen, capsized either Thursday night or early Friday near Guhere, north of Obock, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Sunday.
As of Sunday, around 84 people were still unaccounted for, while more than 80 survived the incident. The survivors were all Ethiopian nationals, the agency noted.
“No one gets onto a boat like that unless they believe there is no other safe way,” said Amy Pope, the IOM Director General, in a statement.
Pope further emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We cannot keep treating these deaths as normal. Safe and legal pathways save lives. I am asking governments and donors to act before the next boat goes down.”
The reported death toll is limited to individuals whose bodies have been buried by authorities in Djibouti, and it may increase as more bodies are confirmed, shared Alexandre Coissac, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti, with The Associated Press.
Some of the deceased were buried by fellow migrants, but these victims will not be included in the official count until verification can take place, according to the report.
“What is terrible is that they were buried without names, in a common grave, like in a war situation,” Coissac remarked. “They all have a mother, a father, and we may never learn what happened.”
Coissac indicated that the boat sank shortly after leaving on the evening of October 8, primarily due to overcrowding.
Those who survived were taken to an IOM rescue center in Obock for medical and psychological support after having swallowed seawater.
The route from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, where many migrants seek employment, is fraught with danger. Last year, more than 900 migrants either died or went missing along this path, according to the IOM.
Coissac mentioned that the survivors are in a state of shock following the tragedy.
