At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, have died after a vessel carrying 305 passengers capsized off Djibouti, leaving several others unaccounted for, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The boat was heading towards Yemen from Djibouti when it overturned near the coastal town of Obock on Thursday night.
Approximately 82 passengers were rescued, while recovery teams continued searching for missing individuals.
The UN migration agency increased the confirmed death toll from 109 to 139 on Sunday after another 30 bodies were retrieved.
Alexandre Coissac, head of IOM’s mission in Djibouti, described the incident as a painful illustration of the risks people encounter while searching for better opportunities abroad.
Authorities are organising funerals for the deceased, while surviving passengers, all Ethiopian citizens, are receiving medical attention.
The IOM is also assisting 64 survivors at its Obock facility with healthcare and efforts to reconnect with relatives.
Thousands of people from the Horn of Africa undertake the dangerous crossing annually in pursuit of employment and improved living conditions in Gulf nations.
Despite Yemen’s prolonged civil war and increasing regional insecurity, many continue making the journey, driven by economic hardship, violence and climate-related pressures.
According to the IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix, more than 20,000 movements from Ethiopia into Djibouti were recorded from 10 September.
The organisation says it is collaborating with local officials to support migrants and reduce fatalities during these journeys.
Statistics from the agency indicate that over 900 migrants died or disappeared along the same route in 2025, as attempted crossings increased by 18 per cent.
A similar maritime disaster in March 2026 claimed nine lives, with another 45 people reported missing.
Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency reported last month that Yemen’s conflict had forced more than 130,000 people from their homes.
Thousands of Yemenis have also sought refuge in Djibouti to escape fighting between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-supported government.
Djibouti, a small country formerly governed by France, lies across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, making it a major departure point for migrants attempting the perilous sea passage.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong