Going to Yemen during the civil war... Djibouti migrant boat capsizes, 109 dead

(Cairo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Sang-hoon = A ship carrying migrants sank off the coast of Djibouti in northeastern Africa, killing at least 109 people and leaving 116 missing, the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on the 11th (local time).

According to IOM, between the night of the 8th and the early morning of the 9th, a ship heading to Yemen with 350 people on board capsized in the sea near Obock, a port city in northern Djibouti.

Among the 109 bodies recovered, 52 were men, 42 were women, and 15 were children (9 girls, 6 boys). All 80 survivors were confirmed to be Ethiopian nationals.

“There has been a tragic loss of life,” said IOM Special Envoy to Djibouti Alexandre Cuassac, adding, “This disaster clearly demonstrates the fatal risks migrants face as they cross the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Yemen and the Gulf countries.”

Currently, IOM is working with Djibouti authorities to carry out emergency rescue and relief operations on the ground and is supporting 64 survivors at the migrant center in Obock. Search and rescue operations for missing people are also underway.

IOM pointed out that despite the instability of the Middle East situation due to poverty, insecurity, and the negative effects of climate change, many people are risking their lives on this journey.

Their destination, Yemen, has been severely hit by a long civil war between government forces supported by Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels backed by Iran.

According to IOM statistics, the number of migrants who have crossed the border from Ethiopia to Djibouti since the 10th of last month has exceeded 20,000.

In 2025 alone, the number of migrant deaths and disappearances on sea routes to Yemen exceeded 900, and the scale of smuggling attempts increased by 18% compared to the previous year. Previously, in March of this year, 9 people died and 45 people went missing due to a ship sinking in this area.

IOM urged the international community to actively support Djibouti authorities to increase their search and rescue operations and relief capabilities.