139 Migrants Dead After Boat Capsizes Off Djibouti, UN Reports

At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, have died and dozens more are still missing after a boat sank off the coast of Djibouti, according to the United Nations' migration office. The boat was traveling from Djibouti to Yemen with 305 people aboard when it capsized near the port town of Obock on Thursday night. Approximately 82 people were rescued, as reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). IOM's Djibouti mission chief, Alexandre Coissac, described the incident as a "stark reminder" of the dangers migrants face when seeking a new life. Tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa undertake this perilous journey each year in hopes of reaching Gulf countries for safety and work. The organization revised its death toll from 109 on Sunday after recovering 30 more bodies. Coissac stated, "This is a devastating loss of life. Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives." Local authorities are arranging burials for the deceased, while survivors, all Ethiopian nationals, are receiving medical care. Yemen remains in a prolonged civil war that has lasted over a decade, prompting migrants to cross the Bab el-Mandeb Strait despite the conflict and regional instability. Since September 10, the IOM has observed more than 20,000 movements from Ethiopia to Djibouti. The IOM is providing assistance to 64 survivors at its response center in Obock, including healthcare and support to reconnect with their families. The UN agency is collaborating with local authorities to assist migrants and prevent deaths at sea and on land. In 2025, over 900 migrants died or went missing on the same route, reflecting an 18% increase in attempts to make the journey. A similar incident in March 2026 resulted in nine deaths and 45 missing persons. The ongoing conflict in Yemen has displaced over 130,000 individuals, according to the UN refugee agency, with many fleeing to Djibouti to escape the civil war between Houthi fighters and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. Djibouti is a small former French colony located just across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen.