A devastating maritime incident off the coast of Djibouti has resulted in at least 45 fatalities and left dozens missing after two vessels carrying refugees and migrants from Africa sank in the Red Sea. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the boats, which departed from Yemen, were carrying 310 individuals when they encountered distress.
Djibouti’s coastguard has been leading a joint rescue operation since early Monday, successfully saving 115 survivors thus far. The vessels sank merely 150 meters from the shoreline near Djibouti’s northwest Khor Angar region, highlighting the perilous nature of these short but treacherous sea crossings.
This incident is not isolated, as similar tragedies have occurred in recent months. In April, 38 people perished in a boat sinking off Djibouti’s coast, while June saw 49 casualties in a similar event involving migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia.
The Red Sea crossing, part of the “Eastern Route,” is considered one of the world’s busiest and most dangerous migration paths. Annually, tens of thousands of individuals, primarily from the Horn of Africa, attempt this journey seeking better opportunities in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. The route exposes migrants to numerous risks, including drowning, health hazards, violence, and exploitation by traffickers.
IOM records indicate that nearly 400,000 people traversed the Eastern Route in 2023, with almost 700 deaths or disappearances recorded that year alone. Since 2014, the total number of lives lost or unaccounted for on this route has approached 1,000, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and humanitarian assistance in the region.