Migrants perishing in maritime disaster off the coast of Yemen, following their escape from Ethiopia.
In the turbulent waters of the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a silent crisis is unfolding. The year 2025 has seen an alarming increase in migrant deaths, primarily due to the dangerous sea crossings migrants undertake from the Horn of Africa, especially Ethiopia and Somalia, to reach Yemen irregularly.
The root cause of this crisis lies in the risky voyages migrants embark on, often aboard overcrowded and unseaworthy boats that frequently capsize. These treacherous journeys claim lives through drowning, hunger, and thirst. Tragically, even before boats sink, migrants face exploitation and extreme conditions, such as a lack of food and water, leading to preventable deaths.
The ongoing civil war and airstrikes in Yemen have worsened the humanitarian crisis, with a 2025 airstrike on a migrant detention center resulting in the death of at least 68 African migrants. The economic collapse in Yemen, marked by currency depreciation and soaring prices, further drives migration by worsening living conditions and reducing support systems.
The main maritime route for these migrants is crossing from the Horn of Africa, primarily Djibouti and Somalia, to Yemen’s southern coast. Despite the country's armed conflict and instability, migrants hope to transit Yemen in pursuit of wealthier Gulf Arab countries. Overland routes within Yemen are equally dangerous due to internal conflict and military operations.
In 2025 alone, over 60,000 migrants have arrived in Yemen by these routes, although numbers have declined from 97,200 in 2023, possibly due to increased patrols. However, recent tragedies, such as a boat capsizing off Yemen’s Abyan coast that killed at least 92 migrants with many more missing, highlight the persistent dangers faced by migrants.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has recorded more than 350 deaths and disappearances along these eastern migration routes since early 2025, with actual numbers likely higher. Search and rescue efforts continue, but they are hampered by the scale of incidents, Yemen’s conflict, and the vast coastal area where bodies are found scattered.
Despite a peace agreement signed in Tigray, Ethiopia, in November 2022, the situation remains fragile with intermittent violence and a lack of access to food, healthcare, and essential services. This conflict has forced millions to flee the country, with many seeking safety and stability abroad, especially in Yemen.
The recent disaster near the coast of Abyan governorate, a common area used by smugglers moving migrants from East Africa to Gulf states, has resulted in the death of at least 157 people, with 76 bodies recovered and 32 survivors rescued. The toll has since risen, underscoring the urgent need for safer migration routes and improved humanitarian support for migrants.
As the world watches, the situation remains dire, with consistent fatal incidents occurring as migrants seek better futures amid regional instability. Yemen remains a key transit route for migrants, especially from Ethiopia, and the need for international cooperation to address this crisis is more pressing than ever.
- The International Community needs to address the escalating migration crisis in Africa, particularly along the Horn of Africa, where a staggering 157 lives were lost in a recent tragedy off the coast of Abyan governorate.
- Amidst the ongoing civil war and economic collapse in Yemen, migrants continue to face extreme dangers, with more than 350 deaths and disappearances recorded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) since early 2025.
- The crisis in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait is not just a matter of general-news or crime-and-justice; it is a health, migration, and political issue that requires urgent international attention and cooperation, especially considering the increasing number of deaths and the volatile situation in key regions like Ethiopia and Somalia.
