The UN has confirmed that thirty-eight migrants, including children, have died after the boat they were traveling in capsized off the coast of Djibouti.
The boat carrying 66 migrants, primarily from Ethiopia, left Yemen for Djibouti around 2 am. At approximately 4 am on 8 April, about 200 meters from the northeastern coast of Djibouti the boat sank. 5 migrants are missing and presumed dead.
According to the 23 survivors, the vessel was overloaded before water began flooding causing it to overturn.
Chief of Mission for IOM Djibouti, Tanja Pacifico said:
This is among the deadliest shipwrecks recorded in Djibouti. This migration corridor is among the busiest and most dangerous in Africa, yet it recieves very limited attention and funding, while the numbers keep increasing. More support is needed to prevent the loss f life and support countries like Djibouti.
Early last year, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned that the dangerous journey through the Eastern Migration Route has seen a 64 percent increase.
According to the IOM, this increase is driven by climate change which has forced migrants including large numbers of women and children to move away from their homes in search of a better life.
Last month, the IOM released a report documenting the number of migrants that have died or disappeared during migration in the past decade. As of 13 March 2023, this figure stood at approximately 63,285. Nearly 60 percent of these deaths have been linked to drowning.
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