Tragic Shipwreck off Djibouti Coast Claims Over 139 Lives

At least 139 individuals, including children, lost their lives after a boat capsized off the Djibouti coast, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported. This tragic event involved a vessel carrying more than 300 migrants along the east African coast.

Devastating Losses

Alexandre Coissac, IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti, expressed condolences, mentioning the overwhelming impact on families and survivors. He highlighted the complications in counting casualties, as some migrants were buried by peers without verification.

“They were buried with no names, in a common grave, like in a war situation,” Coissac noted. “They all have a mother, a father, and we may never learn what happened.”

The boat departed on October 8 and rapidly sank, mainly due to overcrowding. Local authorities faced challenges managing the numerous bodies washing ashore.

Survivors and Missing Persons

Among the recovered bodies were nine girls and six boys. Over 80 Ethiopian nationals survived the ordeal. These survivors received medical care and psychological support at the IOM rescue center in Obock. Many are traumatized and learning about the losses of family members. They could contact relatives to convey their safety.

The IOM documented this incident as one of the deadliest shipwrecks in this migration route, with at least 84 individuals still missing. The boat was traveling from Djibouti to Yemen and carried 305 people according to IOM’s data.

Migration Patterns and Dangers

Tens of thousands yearly use this route from the Horn of Africa toward Gulf nations seeking economic stability. Recent escalations in Yemen have influenced these migration patterns. Meanwhile, opposite movements, such as aid to 2,000 Yemenis in Djibouti, reflect the area’s instability.

Last year, over 900 migrants died or disappeared on this passage, marking an 18% journey increase. The continuation of perilous journeys prompts calls for safer, legal migration pathways.

“No one gets into a boat like that unless they believe there is no other safe way,” IOM Director-General Amy Pope stressed. “We cannot keep treating these deaths as normal. Safe and legal pathways save lives.”