139 Dead in Migrant Boat Disaster Off Africa, Including 15 Children
139 people, including 15 children, died after a migrant boat capsized off Djibouti. Survivors describe the tragedy as overwhelming.
POLICY WIRE — Djibouti, Africa — At least 139 individuals, including 15 children, have perished following a migrant boat accident off the coast of Djibouti, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The vessel, carrying over 300 migrants, sank near the shore on Thursday night or Friday morning, marking one of the deadliest maritime tragedies on the route from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula.
The IOM confirmed that at least nine girls and six boys were among the deceased, with more than 80 survivors, all Ethiopian nationals. Authorities are still searching for at least 84 others who remain unaccounted for. The incident has raised concerns about the growing risks faced by those attempting the dangerous journey in search of economic opportunities in Gulf nations.
IOM mission chief Alexandre Coissac described the scene as harrowing, noting that many victims were buried without names in mass graves, akin to wartime conditions. He emphasized the overcrowded nature of the vessel, which sank shortly after departing on October 8. Survivors are receiving medical and psychological care at an IOM facility in Obock, where some have been notified of the deaths of family members while others are using phones to contact loved ones.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
