Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
Socotra witnessed painful drowning incidents last September that caused concern among the residents, as a medium-sized fishing boat carrying a group of passengers and crew was lost following an engine malfunction in the middle of the Arabian Sea. It remained lost for about two weeks before being found near the Iranian sea by an Iranian vessel.
In another incident during the same month, a small boat carrying two fishermen sank near the shores of Hadibo city. One of them managed to survive after swimming for more than a full day, while the other was lost amidst the lack of sufficient search efforts from the concerned authorities, causing widespread pain and sorrow among the local community.
Activist Abdullah Bada’han said that helicopter and sailplane equipment was provided by the UAE and is stored near Socotra Airport, according to a handover protocol dated June 14, 2025. Military and security leaders had pledged to take responsibility for using these aircraft in search and rescue operations when drowning and loss incidents occur.
Bada’han added that these commitments have not been adequately fulfilled so far, calling on the concerned authorities to bear their responsibilities and adhere to what was agreed upon to ensure the safety of Socotra’s people and reduce the loss of lives and marine property.
These recurring incidents reflect the urgent need to strengthen search and rescue mechanisms in Socotra, especially in light of the increasing dangers facing fishermen and sea travelers, according to local reports and activist voices.
