Djibouti Boat Disaster Kills 109 Migrants, Including 15 Children

At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, have died after a boat carrying about 350 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti. 

Dozens remain missing, while around 80 people have been rescued. The boat was travelling from Djibouti to Yemen when it sank near the port town of Obock on Thursday night, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In a statement released on Friday, the UN migration agency said the bodies recovered included 52 men, 42 women, nine girls and six boys. Search and recovery operations are continuing as authorities work to establish the full extent of the disaster.

Alexandre Coissac, head of the IOM mission in Djibouti, expressed his condolences to the families of those who died and those still waiting for news of missing relatives. Local authorities are arranging burials for the deceased, while survivors are receiving medical care and other assistance.

All the survivors are Ethiopian nationals. The IOM is supporting 64 of them at its response centre in Obock, where they are receiving healthcare and help to contact their families. The agency is also working with local authorities to improve assistance for migrants and prevent further deaths along the route.

The disaster is the latest deadly incident involving migrants travelling from the Horn of Africa to Yemen. Thousands of people undertake the journey each year in search of employment, better living conditions and greater security, despite the risks associated with crossing the sea.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which separates the Horn of Africa from the Arabian Peninsula, is a major route for migrants travelling towards Yemen. However, arrival in Yemen does not necessarily offer safety, as the country has endured more than a decade of civil war and continues to face insecurity.

Migrants reaching Yemen may also struggle to find accommodation, employment and protection, leaving many exposed to further hardship. According to the IOM, its Displacement Tracking Matrix recorded more than 20,000 movements from Ethiopia to Djibouti from 10 September. The figures reflect continued migration across the region despite the dangers of the sea crossing.

The latest shipwreck follows a series of deadly incidents along the same route. IOM figures show that more than 900 migrants died or went missing along the route in 2025, when the number of people attempting the journey increased by 18 percent.

In March 2026, another boat incident killed nine people and left 45 others missing, further highlighting the risks facing migrants travelling between the Horn of Africa and Yemen.

The IOM continues to provide emergency assistance to survivors and work with local authorities to reduce migrant deaths. However, repeated shipwrecks remain a major humanitarian concern, particularly as people continue to undertake dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities.