Djibouti Migrant Boat Capsizes, Killing 139 and Leaving 84 Missing

At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, have died after a boat carrying 305 people capsized off Djibouti while traveling to Yemen, according to the United Nations' International Organization for Migration (IOM). Around 84 people remain missing, making the incident one of the deadliest recent migrant shipwrecks along the Eastern Route.

The vessel overturned near Guhere, north of the Djiboutian port town of Obock, during the night of October 8-9. The IOM confirmed that approximately 82 passengers survived, while rescue teams continued searching for missing migrants.

Djiboutian authorities are conducting search and rescue operations, providing medical assistance to survivors and arranging burials for victims. Images released by the UN agency showed abandoned footwear scattered along the shoreline.

IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti Alexandre Coissac said emergency response teams were working alongside local authorities to assist those affected.

"This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities," Coissac said.

The migrants were attempting to reach Yemen before continuing toward wealthier Gulf countries in search of employment and better living conditions. However, the journey remains extremely dangerous as Yemen faces escalating violence between Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Meanwhile, renewed fighting in Ethiopia has intensified migration pressures. Violence in the Tigray region, which erupted on September 23, has raised concerns about another major conflict following the devastating 2020-2022 war.

According to IOM reports, Ethiopian migrants frequently cite drought, economic hardship, armed conflict and fears of forced recruitment as reasons for leaving their country.

The Eastern Route, connecting the Horn of Africa to Yemen and Gulf nations, exposes migrants to deadly sea crossings, human trafficking, detention and exploitation.

More than 900 migrants died or disappeared along the route in 2025, according to IOM's Missing Migrants Project, as migration movements increased by 18%.

The humanitarian situation has worsened further as fighting in Yemen drives displacement. IOM reported that the number of displaced people surged from 76,000 in mid-September to approximately 200,000.

More than 3,700 people have also fled Yemen by sea to Djibouti, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis affecting both sides of the migration corridor.