13 migrants die, 14 missing in Yemen shipwreck, says International Organization for Migration

ISTANBUL

Thirteen people died and 14 remain missing after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Yemen's Ta’iz governorate, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday.

The vessel carrying 25 Ethiopian migrants and two Yemeni nationals sank last Tuesday near the Dubab district in the Bani Al-Hakam sub-district, said the UN agency.

It added that among the deceased were 11 men and two women, whose bodies were recovered along the shores of Bab-al Mandab. Search efforts are ongoing to find the missing migrants, including the Yemeni captain and his assistant.

The cause of the shipwreck is unknown, said the IOM.

"This latest tragedy is a stark reminder of the perils faced by migrants on this route," said Matt Huber, acting chief of mission for the IOM in Yemen.

He stressed the need for collective action to protect migrants and prevent further loss of life.

The route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen is one of the most dangerous in the world.

In 2023, over 97,200 migrants arrived in Yemen despite the ongoing conflict there and deteriorating conditions.

The IOM urged increased support and international collaboration to address the root causes of irregular migration and provide essential protection to vulnerable migrants.

Since 2014, IOM’s Missing Migrants Project has recorded over 2,000 migrant deaths on the Eastern Route, including 693 due to drowning.

Despite these alarming numbers, the international response remains severely underfunded, the agency said.