Children among 139 dead after boat capsizes off Djibouti

A devastating maritime disaster has struck off the coast of Djibouti, claiming the lives of at least 139 migrants, including 15 children. The vessel, which was carrying an overwhelming total of 305 people, capsized near the port town of Obock during a dark night voyage on Thursday. The International Organization for Migration confirmed the grim statistics, noting that while 82 individuals were pulled from the waters alive, a staggering 84 people are still unaccounted for as rescue and recovery operations continue.

The ill-fated boat was undertaking a perilous journey across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, travelling from Djibouti toward Yemen. This maritime route is a heavily utilized corridor for tens of thousands of migrants hailing from the Horn of Africa each year. Driven by extreme poverty, ongoing insecurity, and the compounding impacts of climate change, these individuals brave the treacherous crossing with the ultimate hope of reaching safety, stability, and employment opportunities in wealthy Gulf nations.

Alexandre Coissac, the Djibouti mission chief for the International Organization for Migration, described the incident as a stark and heartbreaking reminder of the profound dangers migrants face in search of a better life. Following the recovery of 30 additional bodies over the weekend, the official death toll was revised upward. Local authorities and humanitarian workers are currently coordinating efforts to arrange dignified burials for the deceased, while providing essential medical care and psychological support to the survivors, all of whom have been identified as Ethiopian nationals.

Despite Yemen being engulfed in a brutal civil war for more than a decade, the continuous flow of migration along this eastern corridor remains remarkably persistent. Data from the organization's Displacement Tracking Matrix indicates that tens of thousands of movements from Ethiopia into Djibouti have been recorded in recent weeks alone. Migrants often view the risks of the sea as secondary to the immediate threats of hunger, violence, and lack of opportunity back home, even as conflict and instability plague the wider region.

In the wake of the disaster, the migration agency is actively assisting dozens of survivors at its response centre in Obock. This aid includes vital healthcare services and logistical support to help migrants restore contact with their worried families back home. The agency continues to work in close collaboration with local governments and regional partners to try to prevent further loss of life both at sea and on land.

Statistical records highlight the sheer scale of the crisis unfolding along this migration route. Last year alone, more than 900 migrants lost their lives or went missing while attempting the exact same crossing, coinciding with an 18 percent surge in overall journey attempts. This latest tragedy follows another deadly incident earlier in the year, underscoring an urgent and persistent humanitarian challenge that demands comprehensive regional cooperation and enhanced protective measures for vulnerable populations.