At least 68 African refugees and migrants have died, and 74 others are still missing after a boat sank off the coast of Abyan province in Yemen, according to the United Nations migration agency (IOM). The boat was carrying 154 Ethiopians, hoping to reach safer and better living conditions. Only 12 people survived the tragic accident. Abdul Qader Bajamil, a health official in Yemen, said that 54 bodies were found on the shores of Khanfar district, while 14 more were discovered in another area and taken to a hospital morgue. Authorities are making plans to bury the victims near the city of Sh

At least 68 African refugees and migrants have died, and 74 others are still missing after a boat sank off the coast of Abyan province in Yemen, according to the United Nations migration agency (IOM). The boat was carrying 154 Ethiopians, hoping to reach safer and better living conditions. Only 12 people survived the tragic accident. Abdul Qader Bajamil, a health official in Yemen, said that 54 bodies were found on the shores of Khanfar district, while 14 more were discovered in another area and taken to a hospital morgue. Authorities are making plans to bury the victims near the city of Shaqra. The search for those still missing is continuing, but bad weather and sea conditions are making the task difficult. Many people from Ethiopia and other parts of Africa try to reach Yemen by sea, hoping to continue on to Saudi Arabia or other Gulf countries. They are looking for jobs and a chance to live in peace. But the journey is extremely dangerous. The IOM says that 558 people died on this same route last year. Over the past ten years, more than 2,000 people have gone missing, and at least 693 are known to have drowned. In 2024, over 60,000 migrants and refugees have arrived in Yemen. This is fewer than the 97,200 who came in 2023, which may be due to increased patrols at sea. Despite this drop, the number of people still risking their lives is high. Yemen, which is already struggling with conflict and poverty, is now home to about 380,000 refugees and migrants. Abdusattor Esoev, head of IOM in Yemen, said that this shipwreck is a tragic reminder of the danger many people face when they try to escape poverty or violence. They often have no safe or legal way to move, so they risk their lives on dangerous sea routes.

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