Tragedy in the Red Sea: At Least 8 Migrants Drown in Horrific Smuggling Operation
Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
Reports have revealed that at least eight migrants have drowned and 22 others are missing after smugglers forced them to jump from their boat in the Red Sea off the coast of Djibouti.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) explained that the boat was carrying around 150 passengers and was likely headed to Yemen on June 5th. The smugglers forced the passengers off the boat in the middle of the sea, leaving them to swim for their lives.
Celestine Franz, IOM’s Regional Director for East Africa, expressed her concern, stating, “These young people were forced into impossible choices by smugglers who show no regard for human life.” She added that the organization is doing its utmost to support the survivors and prevent further losses.
IOM-supported search and rescue operations have recovered five bodies from the sea near Moulhouly, northern Djibouti, bringing the confirmed death toll to eight, with expectations for this number to rise as search efforts continue.
Following the incident, IOM patrols found several survivors in the desert. They are now receiving urgent medical care at a local hospital, along with psychosocial support at the IOM-managed reception center in Obock, Djibouti.
Thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa risk their lives every year to reach Gulf countries via Yemen, hoping to find work. The IOM has recorded 272 deaths on the Eastern Mediterranean migration route so far this year, which includes both land and sea routes.
The organization warned that this tragic incident is part of a worsening crisis, calling for increased international support to enhance search and rescue operations and provide safe migration pathways.
In a related context, the organization announced the discovery of the bodies of 10 migrants on a beach near Marsa Matrouh in Egypt, believed to have sailed from the Libyan coast in an attempt to reach Europe. The IOM noted that more than 32,000 people have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea since 2014, with an unknown number still missing.
