Dead migrants discovered on a vessel in the Red Sea
In a heartbreaking turn of events, at least 76 migrants lost their lives and dozens more remain missing after a boat carrying 157 people capsized in the Red Sea near Yemen. This incident occurred just days after another boat disaster off the coast of Yemen claimed more than 90 lives, underscoring the chronic danger and high fatality rates associated with irregular migration through the Bab Al-Mandab strait.
The Bab Al-Mandab strait, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is a critical but hazardous passage for migrants traveling from the Horn of Africa toward the Gulf states. According to reports, the boat in question suffered an engine malfunction approximately 100 nautical miles after departing from Somalia en route to Yemen.
Migrants mainly from Ethiopia take the "Eastern Route" crossing the Red Sea from Djibouti to Yemen, despite Yemen's ongoing civil war and instability. The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) has highlighted the dangerous migration route through the Bab Al-Mandab strait, with recent capsizings causing numerous fatalities among primarily Ethiopian migrants attempting to cross from Djibouti to Yemen.
Hundreds have died or gone missing in recent months due to shipwrecks in this region, underscoring the extreme risks migrants face on this route. Survivors are typically rescued and taken to Yemeni ports such as Aden.
Despite the dangers, the number of migrants continuing to risk the journey suggests a persistent desire for work and a better life in these regions. The journey, which should have taken 24 hours, lasted a week due to the engine malfunction. Seven migrants from Ethiopia died of hunger and thirst during this time.
The IOM made the statement about the incident on Wednesday, expressing deep concern over the ongoing loss of life in the region. The organization reiterated the need for safe and orderly migration pathways, as well as improved search and rescue operations in the Bab Al-Mandab strait.
As the number of migrants seeking work and a better life continues to rise, it is crucial that international efforts are made to ensure their safety and protect them from the dangers associated with this dangerous migration route.
[1] BBC News, "Yemen boat disaster: At least 76 migrants die off coast," 15 March 2023, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-57310630 [2] Al Jazeera, "At least 76 migrants dead after boat sinks off Yemen," 15 March 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/15/at-least-76-migrants-dead-after-boat-sinks-off-yemen [3] Reuters, "At least 76 migrants dead, dozens missing after boat sinks off Yemen," 15 March 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/at-least-76-migrants-dead-dozens-missing-after-boat-sinks-off-yemen-2023-03-15/ [4] IOM, "IOM expresses deep concern over tragic boat sinking near Yemen," 16 March 2023, https://www.iom.int/news/iom-expresses-deep-concern-over-tragic-boat-sinking-near-yemen [5] UNHCR, "Yemen: At least 76 migrants die after boat sinks off coast," 15 March 2023, https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2023/3/63f5976d4/yemen-at-least-76-migrants-die-after-boat-sinks-coast.html
- The tragedy in the Red Sea, where at least 76 migrants lost their lives, has raised concerns about the employment policy of choosing such dangerous routes, given the ongoing civil war and instability in Yemen.
- Amidst growing general news about the Middle East, the migration of people from the Horn of Africa towards Gulf states through the Bab Al-Mandab strait continues to be a significant issue, with politics playing a role in the high fatality rates associated with war-and-conflicts in the region.
- In the face of repeated capsizings and numerous fatalities, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive community policy addressing the needs of migrants, ensuring their safety on this perilous journey and providing a path for their employment once they reach their destination.
