At Least 109 Migrants Dead After Boat Capsizes Off Coast of Djibouti, UN Says

At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, have died after a vessel carrying 350 people capsized near the port town of Obock, Djibouti, according to details released by the International Organization for Migration and reported by BBC News Africa. The boat was travelling from Djibouti across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait toward Yemen when the deadly incident occurred on Thursday night. International relief officials reported that approximately 80 survivors were rescued from the water following the maritime catastrophe.

According to a statement issued by the United Nations migration agency on Friday, rescue and recovery teams identified the deceased as 52 men, 42 women, nine girls, and six boys. Dozens of other passengers remain unaccounted for as search efforts continue off the East African coastline. Alexandre Coissac, the chief of mission for the International Organization for Migration in Djibouti, described the tragic event as a stark reminder of the extreme dangers that vulnerable migrants confront while attempting to reach safer or economically stable locations.

Coissac noted that the loss of life was devastating and expressed sympathy for survivors and families awaiting news of their missing relatives. The agency confirmed that all rescued survivors are Ethiopian nationals. Local authorities in Djibouti are organizing burials for the victims, while medical treatment and emergency support are being provided to those who survived the disaster. The International Organization for Migration stated that it is currently delivering direct assistance to 64 survivors located at its dedicated response facility in Obock.

The aid provided includes medical care and administrative assistance aimed at helping survivors establish contact with family members in their home countries. The tragic maritime crossing highlights a heavily traveled migration corridor across the Horn of Africa. Tens of thousands of people from the region attempt the hazardous sea journey each year, intending to reach Gulf nations for employment opportunities and refuge. Migrants continue to navigate the hazardous sea route despite persistent instability and more than a decade of civil war in Yemen.

Aid agencies attribute the ongoing movement to severe poverty, widespread insecurity, and the intensifying impacts of environmental and climate disruptions across the Horn of Africa. Data from the International Organization for Migration's Displacement Tracking Matrix indicates that more than 20,000 migrant movements from Ethiopia to Djibouti were recorded since September 10. The route has become increasingly dangerous in recent years. UN figures show that more than 900 migrants died or disappeared along the route in 2025, representing an 18 percent increase in travel attempts compared to prior metrics.

Similar disasters have repeatedly occurred along the same corridor. In March 2026, nine individuals died and 45 remained missing following a comparable maritime disaster off the coast. United Nations representatives stated they are working alongside regional government authorities to deliver critical aid and implement measures aimed at preventing further loss of life at sea and on land.