Tragic Boat Capsizing off Djibouti Coast Claims Lives

At least 139 individuals, including children, lost their lives when a boat carrying over 300 migrants capsized off Djibouti’s coast in East Africa. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported the incident on Sunday.

Response from IOM

Alexandre Coissac, the IOM chief of mission in Djibouti, expressed deep sorrow for the tragic loss and extended condolences to the families affected by the disaster.

“This is a devastating loss of life,” Coissac stated. “Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives.”

Coissac explained that the official death count only includes those interred by Djibouti authorities. Many other victims were buried by their fellow migrants, a process yet to be verified officially.

“What is terrible is that they were buried with no names, in a common grave,” Coissac mentioned. “They all have a mother, a father, and we may never learn what happened.”

The Shipwreck Incident

According to Coissac, the migrants embarked on their journey on the evening of October 8. The vessel sank shortly after setting off, mainly due to overcrowding. Local authorities did their best to manage the crisis, overwhelmed by the influx of bodies arriving onshore.

The IOM confirmed that among the recovered bodies were nine girls and six boys, with more than 80 people surviving the shipwreck, all Ethiopian nationals.

Recovery and Support Efforts

Footage provided by IOM showed the overturned vessel and personal belongings strewn along the coastline. Authorities transported the survivors to the IOM rescue center in Obock for medical and psychological aid.

“They’re all in a state of shock,” Coissac reported. Some migrants already knew about the death of their family members, while others made calls back home to inform relatives of their survival.

Currently, 84 people remain missing in what could be one of the deadliest accidents on this dangerous migration route. The IOM indicated the boat had 305 people on board, and the death toll might increase.

Continued Migration Risks

Many migrants from the Horn of Africa embark on perilous journeys across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait towards Gulf nations, despite ongoing conflict in Yemen. This tragic event underscores the severe risks faced by those seeking better opportunities.

“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor,” Coissac stated.

Recent fighting in Yemen has led to aid for 2,000 Yemenis in Djibouti. Contrarily, thousands of migrants typically cross from East Africa towards Yemen annually, searching for employment opportunities in places like Saudi Arabia.

Urgent Call for Safe Routes

IOM’s Missing Migrants Project reported over 900 migrant deaths or disappearances on this route last year, with an 18% increase in journey attempts. Earlier this year, IOM noted another tragic incident off Libya’s coast, with 53 casualties.

IOM Director-General Amy Pope highlighted the dire need for safer migration avenues:

“No one gets into a boat like that unless they believe there is no other safe way. We cannot keep treating these deaths as normal. Safe and legal pathways save lives.”

Pope urged governments and donors to address this crisis proactively, to prevent further tragedies.