At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, have died after a boat carrying around 350 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Dozens of people remain missing following the disaster, which occurred near the port town of Obock on Thursday night as the vessel travelled towards Yemen.
Around 80 people were rescued, the United Nations migration agency said. The victims included 52 men, 42 women, nine girls and six boys, according to figures released by the IOM on Friday.
Alexandre Coissac, the head of the IOM mission in Djibouti, described the incident as a devastating loss of life and a stark reminder of the dangers migrants face when attempting to reach other countries in search of safety and better opportunities.
“Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives,” Coissac said.
Local authorities are arranging burials for those who died, while survivors, all of whom are Ethiopian nationals, have access to medical care. The IOM is also assisting 64 survivors at its response centre in Obock, providing healthcare and helping them re-establish contact with family members.
The tragedy highlights the continuing dangers faced by migrants travelling from the Horn of Africa across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Yemen. Thousands make the journey in the hope of reaching Gulf countries, where they may find employment or escape difficult conditions at home.
The route remains dangerous despite Yemen’s prolonged civil war and growing instability across the wider region. Migrants continue to make the crossing, driven by poverty, insecurity and the effects of climate change, which can place additional pressure on already vulnerable communities.
According to the IOM, its Displacement Tracking Matrix recorded more than 20,000 movements from Ethiopia to Djibouti since 10 September. The figures reflect the continued movement of people through the region, even as the risks associated with the journey remain severe.
The agency said it is working closely with local authorities to support migrants and prevent further deaths both at sea and on land. Its response includes assistance for survivors and efforts to help those affected reconnect with relatives.
The latest disaster follows other deadly incidents along the same migration route. IOM figures show that more than 900 migrants died or went missing while attempting the journey in 2025, a year in which the number of people undertaking the crossing increased by 18%.
In March 2026, another incident on the route left nine people dead and 45 missing. The latest capsizing adds to the toll of people who have died while attempting to cross from the Horn of Africa towards Yemen, including children travelling with adults in search of a different future.
