The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and local officials have reported that at least 39 people from the Horn of Africa died when their boat capsized off the coast of Yemen.
The tragedy occurred as the vessel, carrying 260 migrants, sank on Monday amid strong winds, according to survivors’ accounts to rescuers.
Rescue operations are ongoing for the 150 people still missing. The IOM has confirmed providing aid to 71 survivors.
The migrants, primarily from Ethiopia, were using Yemen as a transit point to reach Gulf states, as stated by local authorities in Rudum, east of Aden, where the incident took place.
Hadi al-Khurma, director of Rudum district, informed Reuters that the boat sank before reaching the shore, and fishermen and local residents aided in rescuing survivors.
Survivors reported additional missing migrants from the same boat.
“The search is still ongoing, and the United Nations has been informed of the incident,” al-Khurma mentioned.
Despite the ongoing war in Yemen and recent Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, the number of migrants arriving in Yemen from the Horn of Africa reached 97,000 last year, according to the UN.
Source-BBC
