UN migration agency demands accountability for Yemen boat tragedy
At least 56 people died when the boat sank in the Gulf of Aden, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Fourteen of the dead were women, with 132 people still missing. Twelve survivors, all male, have been found, the UN agency said. It said the boat carried mostly Ethiopian nationals.
"Every life lost is a powerful reminder of the human toll of irregular migration – and of the urgent need for safe, regular pathways, strong protection systems, effective search and rescue operations, and accountability for smugglers and traffickers,' the IOM said in a statement.
Ethiopia's UN mission in Geneva said more than 60 of the dead were Ethiopians. The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry is "working with partners to investigate and urges citizens to avoid irregular routes", the UN mission said on X.
Yemeni security sources said the boat capsized as a result of heavy seas and strong winds as it headed to Abyan governorate in southern Yemen. Weather warnings are often ignored by smugglers, who profit off of the perilous migration route. Migrants have reported that smugglers are becoming more reckless, knowingly sending boats into dangerous conditions to avoid patrols, according to IOM.
In a statement, the Abyan security directorate described a large-scale search-and-rescue operation. It said many bodies were scattered across a wide area.
The dangerous journey from the Horn of Africa to Yemen is one commonly undertaken by refugees and migrants hoping to reach wealthy Gulf nations in pursuit of a better future.
More than 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen last year alone, according to IOM figures, despite the devastating conflict that has ravaged the country since 2014. Migrants mostly hail from Ethiopia, which faces high levels of poverty and also grapples with conflict.
The IOM says the route between the Horn of Africa and Yemen is "one of the world's busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes".
The Horn of Africa is made up of Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and the breakaway region of Somaliland. Drought, climate change and food insecurity are other factors that have pushed migrants to leave.
The IOM has recorded more than 350 deaths and disappearances this year among migrants travelling along the Eastern Route – between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, 'although the actual figure is likely to be significantly higher', the UN migration agency said.
Over the past decade, IOM's Missing Migrants Project has recorded over 3,400 deaths and disappearances along the Eastern Route, including more than 580 women and 100 children. It said 1,400 of these deaths were caused by drowning.
'This heartbreaking incident highlights the urgent need to address the dangers of irregular migration along the Eastern Route,' the agency said.
'Immediate lifesaving assistance and protection for vulnerable migrants must be prioritised, alongside targeted efforts to tackle the root causes of irregular migration,' it added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
5 hours ago
- The National
First aid convoy in days arrives in Syria's Sweida
A convoy of about 40 aid lorries entered Sweida on Wednesday through a reopened humanitarian corridor, in the first delivery in four days to Syria 's embattled southern province. Red Crescent sources confirmed the convoy's arrival. Ten buses escorted by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent also arrived to evacuate an unspecified number of civilians. 'The convoys arrived and are being distributed by the local communities,' said a Red Crescent volunteer in Sweida, who requested anonymity. 'We got word that the lorries are loaded with a variety of necessities, including food and medical baskets.' Food and basic essentials have dwindled to critical levels in Sweida since access was restricted to the Druze-majority province following last month's fierce sectarian violence between government forces and tribal militias on one side, and Druze gunmen on the other. Residents told The National of widespread shortages of flour, milk, eggs, vegetables, infant formula, cooking gas and diesel. Water has also become scarce, with remaining wells – those not destroyed during the storming of the province – out of action due to the lack of diesel to power pumps. Limited amounts of aid have entered the province since the announcement of a ceasefire in late July. That saw government forces and tribesmen withdraw to the outskirts of the province while local Druze leaders reasserted control. 'It's a lot easier for people to come and go than it is for food and aid to enter,' explained the Red Crescent volunteer. 'It is possible for people in Sweida to leave if they want. Convoys are occasionally evacuating the sick and elderly, while some people are using smugglers to get out.' Aid deliveries, however, remain scarce, deepening concerns among residents already struggling to access basic supplies. Wednesday's convoy was the first since Saturday. The Syrian government denies it is imposing a siege. But authorities have restricted access to the area and require prior co-ordination for entry and exit. Journalists are also banned from entering the city. 'There is no siege on Sweida province for those who do not interfere with the legitimate Syrian government forces,' Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour Eddine Baba told The National, blaming armed Druze factions. 'There's major fear amongst tradesmen and others [of] bringing goods into the province and this has made the humanitarian situation difficult for civilians. The Syrian government calls for the opening of humanitarian crossings so civilians can leave and aid convoys can enter.' Renewed distrust Sweida residents say that some pro-government tribal fighters, many of whom withdrew following the ceasefire, remain stationed along key roads into the province, hindering the entry of goods. 'No one besieges themselves,' said Wadah Azzam, a media activist turned humanitarian aid co-ordinator in the city. 'The security situation is a government excuse for an intentional siege. Tribal forces, backed by General Security, are still centralised in specific strategic points in the western and northern countryside.' Residents fear the restrictions could drag on indefinitely, drawing parallels to Syria's 14-year civil war, when siege tactics were used by all warring factions – including government forces under former president Bashar Al Assad and his allies. 'We went to the supermarket and there was nothing left,' Mr Azzam said. While those in the countryside are sustaining themselves on harvests from their farms and orchards and sending what they can into the city, urban residents rely on imported goods. 'For the first time since this all started, my mom accepted that we might have to evacuate.' Many residents also voiced renewed distrust of the Islamist-led government in Damascus, which they accuse of failing to protect Syria's minorities. 'One regime has been replaced by another,' Sweida city resident Muthana Al Halwani said bitterly. 'I was always against Assad's regime. And now I'm against [Al Shara's] regime.' The violence in Sweida has further alienated Syria's Druze population from the central government, which continues to seek full control over the province. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that around 1,500 people have been killed on both sides, including more than 160 civilians, and the UN estimates that more than 190,000 people were displaced by last month's fighting. Many Druze civilians in Sweida who spoke to The National expressed outright rejection of Damascus's authority. Hikmat Al Hijri, the Druze spiritual leader who has long advocated separation from the Damascus government and even courted Israel for support, 'may have had limited supporters in the past', said one resident who spoke on condition on anonymity. 'But the battles with the government changed the minds of people who held more moderate views. Now, we're almost all in agreement that we don't want to be under the government.'
Zawya
12 hours ago
- Zawya
South Sudan: From despair to daily bread - how peace transforms lives in Pibor
Rebecca Zuagin remembers a time when simply selling tea and porridge in Pibor town was a struggle. Her small restaurant, her lifeline, faced a relentless onslaught. "The experience was painful," Rebecca recalls. "We faced challenges on two fronts: insecurity and flooding. My restaurant would be under water almost every day, and it was nearly impossible to do business." These hardships had a devastating impact on Rebecca and her family. Providing food for her loved ones and paying school fees for her six children, who sought refuge in Uganda during the civil war, became an insurmountable task. The flooding poses a threat far beyond disrupting daily life. It has forced thousands to abandon their homes and seek protection on higher ground as well as inflicting severe damage on critical infrastructure, with impassable roads making it almost impossible for communities to access markets, humanitarian aid or to connect for peacebuilding. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan, in collaboration with humanitarian partners and local authorities, are doing their utmost to help communities combat these challenges. Peacekeepers have increased efforts to protect civilians and deter violence by patrolling to all corners of the region and bringing feuding communities together for reconciliation and peacebuilding. 'Our priority is to protect and connect with those we serve, particularly women and youth. We are relentlessly focused on innovative ways to engage all diverse communities across Jonglei in activities that promote trust and confidence and build peace,' says UNMISS Head of Field Office in Bor, Geetha Pious. The peacekeeping mission has also constructed five kilometers of new dykes, which protect communities from the ravages of the rainy season and the airstrip, which is the main entry point for humanitarian supplies. "Today, I can confidently do business without fear because the security situation in and around town has improved and the new dykes are protecting my shop," explains Rebecca. "On a good day, I can earn enough money to feed my family and ensure my children can go to school.' Judia Oleyo Ngare, a bread maker in Langachot residential area, echoes these sentiments. "Unlike previous times, I am no longer afraid, and I can feed my family of 10.' Youth are also profoundly impacted. "All we need is harmony and it is only achievable through conflict resolution," shared Aphir Cham Agada, underscoring the transformative power of community dialogue in preventing violence and promoting much deserved peace. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
The National
a day ago
- The National
UN migration agency demands accountability for Yemen boat tragedy
The UN's migration agency has called for 'accountability for smugglers and traffickers' after a vessel carrying 200 migrants capsized off the Yemeni coast on Sunday. At least 56 people died when the boat sank in the Gulf of Aden, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Fourteen of the dead were women, with 132 people still missing. Twelve survivors, all male, have been found, the UN agency said. It said the boat carried mostly Ethiopian nationals. "Every life lost is a powerful reminder of the human toll of irregular migration – and of the urgent need for safe, regular pathways, strong protection systems, effective search and rescue operations, and accountability for smugglers and traffickers,' the IOM said in a statement. Ethiopia's UN mission in Geneva said more than 60 of the dead were Ethiopians. The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry is "working with partners to investigate and urges citizens to avoid irregular routes", the UN mission said on X. Yemeni security sources said the boat capsized as a result of heavy seas and strong winds as it headed to Abyan governorate in southern Yemen. Weather warnings are often ignored by smugglers, who profit off of the perilous migration route. Migrants have reported that smugglers are becoming more reckless, knowingly sending boats into dangerous conditions to avoid patrols, according to IOM. In a statement, the Abyan security directorate described a large-scale search-and-rescue operation. It said many bodies were scattered across a wide area. The dangerous journey from the Horn of Africa to Yemen is one commonly undertaken by refugees and migrants hoping to reach wealthy Gulf nations in pursuit of a better future. More than 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen last year alone, according to IOM figures, despite the devastating conflict that has ravaged the country since 2014. Migrants mostly hail from Ethiopia, which faces high levels of poverty and also grapples with conflict. The IOM says the route between the Horn of Africa and Yemen is "one of the world's busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes". The Horn of Africa is made up of Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and the breakaway region of Somaliland. Drought, climate change and food insecurity are other factors that have pushed migrants to leave. The IOM has recorded more than 350 deaths and disappearances this year among migrants travelling along the Eastern Route – between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, 'although the actual figure is likely to be significantly higher', the UN migration agency said. Over the past decade, IOM's Missing Migrants Project has recorded over 3,400 deaths and disappearances along the Eastern Route, including more than 580 women and 100 children. It said 1,400 of these deaths were caused by drowning. 'This heartbreaking incident highlights the urgent need to address the dangers of irregular migration along the Eastern Route,' the agency said. 'Immediate lifesaving assistance and protection for vulnerable migrants must be prioritised, alongside targeted efforts to tackle the root causes of irregular migration,' it added.
