Numerous Ethiopian Lives Lost in Capsized Boat Incident off Djibouti Coast

Synopsis of the Maritime Tragedy

In a harrowing incident off the Djibouti coast, a catastrophic maritime accident resulted in the loss of at least 33 Ethiopian individuals, including a child. The vessel carrying these migrants capsized during their journey across the Red Sea from Yemen back to Ethiopia, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Local fishermen who observed the drowning migrants on Tuesday quickly informed the coastguards. The rescue efforts led to saving over 20 individuals, however, some passengers are still unaccounted for. The harrowing experience was evident as survivors arrived at Godoria, Djibouti, and received medical attention.

Having been returned to Ethiopia under the IOM’s auspices, efforts to deal with such perilous journeys remain paramount. The Djiboutian coastguard highlighted the extreme risk these individuals faced in Yemen that compelled them to undertake such a treacherous passage back to Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian diplomatic mission in Djibouti offered its solemn tributes to those lost. The nation’s envoy underscored the perils of unauthorized voyages across this treacherous expanse, lamenting the continued loss of Ethiopian lives.

The region frequently serves as a transit route for Ethiopians escaping the ripple effects of internal conflict, heading for nations like Saudi Arabia through Djibouti and Yemen in hopes of finding better futures. The conditions in Yemen, itself fraught with conflict, hamper their precarious journey even more.

This tragedy occurs just two weeks subsequent to a similar incident in the same maritime stretch that claimed the lives of 38 Ethiopians. Alarmingly, reports indicate nearly a thousand fatalities or missing persons in the past decade in this region, highlighting the persistent danger of these migration routes.