Migrant vessel capsizes near Djibouti as passengers head for Yemen

A migrant vessel that set out from Djibouti for the Yemeni coast capsized near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime chokepoint separating the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden. According to the International Organization for Migration, the wreck occurred on a Friday night and the exact cause has not yet been identified. Survivors were rescued, but the disaster also claimed the lives of several passengers, including children.

The tragedy highlights the bidirectional nature of migration through this corridor, as individuals flee conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia, and also attempt to reach wealthier Gulf nations via Yemen. The route, known as the Eastern Route, has become a conduit for those escaping war and forced recruitment, such as youths from Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Authorities and aid agencies are monitoring the situation as the region grapples with ongoing instability and humanitarian challenges.