At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, have died and 116 others are missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Djibouti, the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday.
According to the IOM, the boat was carrying around 350 people from Djibouti towards Yemen when it capsized north of the city of Obock around midnight between October 8 and 9.
Alexander Koissek, IOM’s chief of mission in Djibouti, described the incident as a major humanitarian tragedy and expressed condolences to the families of those who died and those still awaiting news of their loved ones.
He said IOM teams were working with Djiboutian authorities at the scene to support rescue operations and provide emergency assistance.
Of the 109 people who died, 52 were men, 42 were women and 15 were children, including nine girls and six boys, according to the IOM.
More than 80 people survived the incident. All the survivors are Ethiopian nationals.
The IOM said the tragedy again highlighted the dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to Yemen and reach Gulf countries in search of economic opportunities.
“Despite growing instability in the Middle East, poverty, insecurity and the increasing effects of climate change continue to push many people to undertake this perilous journey,” the IOM said in a statement.
