Sana’a (EFE).- At least 45 bodies were recovered after a boat carrying approximately 150 migrants capsized late Saturday night off the coast of Yemen, local health officials confirmed on Sunday. Most of the victims were of African origin, primarily Ethiopian, according to Yemen’s Ministry of Health.
“So far, we have recovered the bodies of 45 people, both men and women, the majority of whom are Ethiopian nationals. One Yemeni man was also among the deceased,” said Abdelqader Bajameel, head of the Health Ministry’s office in the coastal province of Abyan, speaking to EFE.
Bajameel added that nine Ethiopian migrants were rescued alive, while search and recovery operations continue with limited resources.
Authorities have called for international NGOs to assist in the efforts, but have yet to receive a response.
The tragedy highlights the deadly risks of the migration route between the Horn of Africa and Yemen, one of the most dangerous in the world, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
“Despite the ongoing conflict and deteriorating conditions in Yemen, thousands of migrants continue to make the crossing each year, hoping to reach Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states,” the IOM stated in a recent report.
Migrants on this route face extreme dangers, including human trafficking, abuse, and unsafe travel conditions, the agency warned.
This is not the first maritime tragedy this year.
According to IOM data, at least three similar shipwrecks have occurred in 2024 alone, leaving 92 confirmed dead and more than 150 missing.
These incidents often involve overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels operated by smugglers.
The public hospital in Zunjubar, Abyan’s capital, remains overwhelmed and is urging international aid organizations to provide support amid the ongoing recovery operation. EFE
ja-cgs-rsm/seo
