Yemen, August 5 (V7N) – A migrant boat carrying refugees and migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen, killing at least 68 people, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). An additional 74 people remain missing and are presumed dead.
 
The incident occurred on Sunday evening near the shores of Shuqrah in Yemen’s Abyan province, where the vessel encountered severe weather and strong winds in the Arabian Sea. The overcrowded boat overturned amid the storm, leaving many onboard unable to escape.
 
The BBC reported that 12 survivors were rescued from the water and taken to the mainland, while 68 bodies were recovered. Most of the victims are believed to be Ethiopian nationals, part of a wave of migrants attempting the perilous journey from the Horn of Africa to Gulf states in search of work and safety.
 
Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, but officials fear the number of casualties may rise. The IOM has expressed deep concern over the continuing loss of life along this migration route, which is one of the most dangerous in the world.
 
Every year, thousands of people risk the journey across the Gulf of Aden, often relying on smugglers and unsafe vessels. The IOM continues to call for urgent international cooperation to improve the protection and humanitarian support for migrants and refugees in the region.
 
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