Yemen Boat Tragedy Leaves 56 Dead, 132 Missing

The migration route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen remains one of the most dangerous in the world, with thousands of migrants crossing each year despite the ongoing conflict and deteriorating conditions in Yemen.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 56 people had died and 132 were missing after a vessel carrying 200 migrants capsized off the coast of Shuqrah, in Yemen’s Abyan Governorate, on 3 August.

With many victims believed to be Ethiopian nationals, this heartbreaking incident highlights the “urgent need to address the dangers of irregular migration along the Eastern Route,” one of the busiest and riskiest migration corridors in the world, mainly used by people from the Horn of Africa, the IOM said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Every life lost is a powerful reminder of the human toll of irregular migration,” the agency stated.

Since the beginning of 2025, the IOM has recorded more than 350 migrant deaths and disappearances along the Eastern Route, with the actual figures likely to be significantly higher.

The agency called for stronger international and regional cooperation to prevent further loss of life by expanding safe and regular migration pathways, enhancing coordinated search and rescue efforts, protecting survivors, and supporting their safe, dignified return and sustainable reintegration into their countries of origin.

“Immediate lifesaving assistance and protection for vulnerable migrants must be prioritised, alongside targeted efforts to tackle the root causes of irregular migration,” the agency urged.

Commending local authorities for their swift response, the IOM reiterated its commitment to supporting ongoing inter-agency efforts to identify and assist survivors, recover bodies, and provide support to affected families.

Working with partners to mobilise resources and deliver humanitarian assistance to people on the move, the IOM stressed that this tragic loss of life is a reminder of the crucial need for “safe, regular pathways, strong protection systems, effective search and rescue operations, and accountability for smugglers and traffickers.”