Tragic Boat Sinking Near Yemen: 13 Dead, 14 Missing
On August 25, a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Yemen, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 people and leaving 14 others missing. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the boat, which had departed from Djibouti with 25 Ethiopians and two Yemeni nationals, capsized near the Dubab district in Yemen’s Taiz governorate.
The IOM confirmed that 11 men and two women were among the deceased. A search operation is ongoing to locate the missing individuals, including the Yemeni captain and his assistant. The cause of the sinking remains unknown.
Huber, the acting chief of IOM’s mission in Yemen, emphasized the dangers faced by migrants on this route, stating, “Every life lost in these dangerous waters is one too many, and it is imperative that we do not normalize these devastating losses and instead work collectively to ensure that migrants are protected and supported throughout their journeys.”
This incident follows similar shipwrecks in June and July, highlighting the extreme dangers of this migration route and the reliance on smuggling networks. Many migrants are forced into perilous conditions by smugglers as they flee desperate circumstances in search of safety and opportunity in the Gulf states.
In 2023, the IOM recorded over 97,200 arrivals in Yemen, surpassing the previous year’s numbers. Many people attempt to reach Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations for employment, despite the risks posed by Yemen’s ongoing civil war.
Doubts Revealed
Yemen -: Yemen is a country in the Middle East, located on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. It is currently experiencing a civil war, which means there is fighting within the country.
Migrants -: Migrants are people who move from one place to another, often to find better living conditions or work. In this case, they were trying to reach other countries for a better life.
Taiz governorate -: A governorate is like a state or region in a country. Taiz is one of the regions in Yemen.
IOM -: IOM stands for International Organization for Migration. It is a group that helps people who move from one country to another.
Ethiopians -: Ethiopians are people from Ethiopia, a country in East Africa. Many of them try to move to other countries for better opportunities.
Gulf states -: Gulf states are countries in the Persian Gulf region, like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Many people move there for work.
Civil war -: A civil war is a conflict where groups within the same country fight each other. Yemen has been in a civil war for several years.
Smuggling networks -: Smuggling networks are groups that illegally help people move from one country to another, often in dangerous ways.
