UN says 68 African migrants were killed when boat capsized off Yemen
The tragedy was the latest in a series of shipwrecks off Yemen that have killed hundreds of African migrants hoping to reach the wealthy Gulf Arab countries.
The vessel, with 154 Ethiopian migrants on board, sank off the southern province of Abyan early Sunday, Abdusattor Esoev, head of the International Organization for Migration in Yemen told The Associated Press.
He said the bodies of 54 migrants washed ashore in the district of Khanfar, and 14 others were found dead and taken to a hospital morgue in Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan on Yemen's southern coast.
Only 12 migrants survived the shipwreck, and the rest were missing and presumed dead, Esoev said.
Despite more than a decade of civil war, Yemen is a major route for migrants from East Africa and the Horn of Africa trying to reach the Gulf Arab countries for work. Migrants are taken by smugglers on often dangerous, overcrowded boats across the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden.
Hundreds of migrants have died or gone missing in shipwrecks off Yemen in recent months, including in March when two migrants died and 186 others were missing after four boats capsized off Yemen and Djibouti, according to the IOM.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
Zoo makes unique request: Donate your pets to feed our predators
A Denmark zoo is requesting donations of healthy horses and other small pets to feed their captive predatory animals. The Aalborg Zoo said it accepts live horses, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs to give to carnivorous animals in its care, calling them an important part of their predators' diets. The zoo, located in Denmark's North Jutland region, argued it has a responsibility to mimic the natural food chain among animals. Donated animals are "gently euthanized" by its staff before being served as fodder. The zoo discussed the feeding donation program in a Facebook post on July 31, garnering dozens of reactions, including many who pushed back on the initiative. Animals: Zoo camera captures rare moment endangered 'African unicorn' calf takes his first steps Zoo shares rules for animal donations The zoo accepts guinea pigs, chickens, and rabbits on weekdays. Donors are allowed to give four at a time. On its website, the Aalborg Zoo explained that there are specific requirements for those who want to donate horses: Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@
Chicago Tribune
8 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Fest at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Aurora offers taste of Africa
Kathleen Dewig of Batavia elected to be a little more adventurous with her lunch this past weekend and elected to try some authentic Nigerian food. 'I've never had this type of cuisine before,' Dewig sat as she sat in an open room with tables Sunday afternoon inside St. Joseph Catholic Church in Aurora. 'It's very spicy, and I like the spicy chicken and the rice.' A trip through Nigerian and other African cuisines, as well as food from other areas of the world, was offered Sunday at St. Joseph Catholic Church as the non-profit Sycamore-based ImaBridge Africa International group offered a two-hour International Taste Festival beginning at 12:30 p.m. Following a Mass at 11 a.m., the church featured cultural performances, an African cooking contest, kids' games and a plethora of food as the non-profit group hoped to raise money through food tickets and donations for the underprivileged in Nigeria. This year's effort focused on helping a hospital in Nigeria, organizers said. Ndifrekeabasi Ecim of Nigeria was on hand Sunday and said she was the administrator for the ImaBridge Africa-owned hospital back home. 'This is going to go a long way to help the vulnerable people – the women who cannot have their children elsewhere – this will help them procure all the help they need for the babies and themselves,' Ecim said of Sunday's fundraiser. The Rev. Godwin Asuquo, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Aurora and also founder of ImaBridge Africa, said the event used to be held in McHenry and was moved here to Aurora last year, following his being assigned to the Aurora church, adding that he was 'wanting to create more awareness.' 'People in McHenry are familiar with this and we wanted to spread the word to another area,' Asuquo said a few days before the event. 'This is the ninth year we have held the fundraiser and the second time we have had it in Aurora. I was transferred from McHenry to Aurora so some of this was for convenience but also to expand awareness. People from McHenry still come here and we are bringing more people.' Cecelia Adams, director of public relations for ImaBridge Africa, said the goal of this year's event was to make it even more multicultural. 'We have foods from different places in Africa but also tamales and other groups. We moved to Aurora to expand ourselves both in ethnicity and also to get the word out for others to help those in need across the globe,' she said. The event focuses on authentic cuisine, Asuquo said. 'We have people of Nigerian or African descent that have flown in and are here with us already – close to 10 people that have arrived from Nigeria who are cooking the food from scratch,' he said before the event. 'We also have people from different ethnicities and we want to make this more of an international festival where we get to learn about different peoples' cultures.' Officials said the event would raise as much as $30,000 when it was held in McHenry and that ImaBridge Africa is also seeking grants. 'Our goal is to raise $30,000 this year. We didn't make that much last year but we think it was because we switched (locations),' Adams said. 'I've personally been to Nigeria about 12 times and it's the culture and the food that keeps me coming back.' Gail Wright of Aurora came with her husband Tom and grandson Gabe and said she used to teach in the area. 'We wanted to support ImaBridge Africa and also see Father Godwin who we know,' she said. 'I know there is African food and we're absolutely excited about that and trying it. I only know what Father Godwin told us about the food but we missed it last year.'
New York Times
10 hours ago
- New York Times
More than 140 Migrants Feared Dead in Boat Disaster Near Yemen
At least 74 African migrants were missing after their boat capsized off Yemen, the U.N. migration agency said Monday, adding to fears that the disaster may have left more than 140 dead. Yemen is at the crossroads of the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa. The country has long been a transit point for migrants, mostly from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia, trying to reach the rich Gulf states to the north. The journey, known as the Eastern Route, is among the most perilous in the world. Abdusattor Esoev, the head of the International Organization for Migration in Yemen, said on Monday that 12 people had survived but 68 bodies had been recovered since the disaster on Saturday night. At least 74 migrants were still missing, as their vessel tried to cross the sea from the Horn of Africa to Yemen. 'We know that most of the migrants on board were Ethiopian nationals,' Mr. Esoev said. Local officials in Yemen said search-and-rescue operations were continuing, even as worries grew that many more had not survived. 'Many of the bodies have been found scattered along various parts of the coastline, raising fears that more victims remain missing at sea,' the authorities in Abyan, a southern Yemeni province, said in a statement posted on Facebook. The post included images that showed many of the dead had not been wearing life vests when their bodies washed ashore. Mr. Esoev said overcrowding and a lack of safety equipment were likely factors. 'The underlying cause of boats capsizing in the Eastern Route is due to smugglers filling boats over capacity and not providing enough life vests on board,' he said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
