At least 45 dead, dozens missing as boats sink off Djibouti coast | Migration News

The boats traveled on a route considered one of the busiest and most dangerous in the world for refugees and migrants from Africa.

At least 45 people have died and dozens are missing after two ships carrying refugees and migrants from Africa sank off the coast of Djibouti, according to the UN migration agency.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday that the boats left Yemen with 310 people on board before sinking in the Red Sea.

“IOM is supporting government emergency services in search and rescue operations,” the organization said in a post on X, adding that 32 survivors had been found.

The Djibouti Coast Guard said a joint rescue operation had been underway since Monday morning. 115 survivors have now been rescued, dozens are still missing.

The boats sank just 150 meters (492 feet) from a beach near Djibouti’s northwestern Khor Angar region, the coast guard said.

Two shipping accidents off the coast of Djibouti tragically left 45 migrants dead and many are still missing.

The boats left Yemen with 310 people on board. So far 32 survivors have been rescued.

IOM supports state emergency services in search and rescue operations. pic.twitter.com/ueVEniVMJF

— IOM spokesperson (@IOMSpokesperson) October 1, 2024

“We remain committed to finding the missing people and ensuring the safety of survivors,” the Coast Guard said in a statement on social media, along with images of white body bags.

In April, at least 38 people, including children, died after their boat sank off the coast of Djibouti while taking the same route across the Red Sea. In June, at least 49 people, mostly from Ethiopia and Somalia, died when their boat sank after setting out from Somalia.

Tens of thousands of people in search of a better future leave Africa every year and cross the Red Sea to reach Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states, in what humanitarian organizations call “one of the busiest and arguably most dangerous areas.” [migration routes] in the world”.

On the so-called “eastern route,” people smugglers pack refugees and migrants onto overcrowded ships that set off from the Horn of Africa towards Yemen. From there they travel to the Gulf States in search of work. Those returning from the Gulf will follow the same route in reverse order.

In addition to the risk of drowning, those who risk crossing the Red Sea – often fleeing conflict, political violence and climate change at home – face health risks, violence and exploitation by human traffickers on the route and in the Gulf states, they said IOM.

According to IOM records, nearly 400,000 people were recorded crossing the eastern route in 2023, with nearly 700 dying or missing that year. According to the IOM, nearly 1,000 people have died or disappeared on the route since 2014.