The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Tuesday that twenty Ethiopian migrants lost their lives when their boat, which had departed from Djibouti, capsized off the coast of Yemen.

Twenty Ethiopian migrants lost their lives when their boat from Djibouti capsized off the coast of Yemen, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Tuesday.

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday and resulted in the deaths of nine women and eleven men. The vessel, which was carrying 35 Ethiopian migrants along with a Yemeni captain and his assistant, departed from Djibouti, according to a statement by the UN migration body.

The boat capsized near Yemen's southwest Taiz Governorate due to strong seasonal winds, the statement added.

Yemen's coastal waters are recognized as some of the most perilous migrant routes in the world. The IOM documented over 60,000 migrant arrivals in Yemen in 2024 alone.

Most Ethiopian migrants traversing Yemen aim to reach Gulf countries, driven by conflict, climate change, and a lack of economic opportunities. The UN agency highlighted that migrants frequently face exploitation, violence, and life-threatening conditions during their journeys.

Abdusattor Esoev, the IOM's chief of mission in Yemen, described the shipwreck as "a grim reminder of the treacherous conditions migrants endure in their search for safety and a better life." He emphasized that "every life lost is one too many" and called on the international community to address the root causes of irregular migration while prioritizing the protection and dignity of migrants.

Since 2014, the UN agency has documented 3,435 deaths and disappearances along the route to Yemen, with 1,416 of those lives lost to drowning.

Yemen itself has been engulfed in war since 2014, when Houthi rebels forced the internationally recognized government out of Sanaa. The Iran-backed rebels have also seized control of population centers in the north.