Death toll in Yemen boat sinking rises to 86

Arab Sea Newspaper - Follow-ups

Arabian Sea - Yemen - Follow-ups: Security sources said that the confirmed death toll in the sinking of a boat carrying migrants off the coast of Yemen on Sunday has risen to 86. The sources stated that the boat was carrying 170 migrants and that 42 of them were rescued. Despite the ongoing civil war for more than a decade, Yemen is a major route for migrants from East Africa and the Horn of Africa seeking to reach the Arab Gulf states for work. Migrants are transported by smugglers on overcrowded and often dangerous boats across the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) expressed deep sadness over the tragic loss of life following the sinking of a boat carrying 200 migrants off the coast of Shaqra, in Yemen's Abyan Governorate, on August 3. The IOM spokesperson said in a statement that this heartbreaking incident highlights the urgent need to address the risks associated with irregular migration along the Eastern Route. He stressed the need to prioritize immediate life-saving assistance and provide protection to vulnerable migrants, along with efforts aimed at addressing the root causes of irregular migration. The organization urged strengthening international and regional cooperation to prevent further loss of life by expanding safe and regular migration pathways, enhancing coordinated search and rescue efforts, protecting survivors, and supporting their safe and dignified return and sustainable reintegration into their countries of origin. The organization praised the local authorities for their rapid response and renewed its commitment to supporting joint inter-agency efforts to identify and assist survivors, recover bodies, and provide support to affected families. The International Organization for Migration stated that it is working with partners to mobilize resources and provide humanitarian assistance to protect people on the move, as well as to support the government in responding to the migration crisis. Since the beginning of 2025, the International Organization for Migration has recorded more than 350 deaths and disappearances of migrants along the Eastern Route, and the actual number is likely to be much higher. The organization warned that "every life lost is a stark reminder of the human cost of irregular migration – and of the urgent need for safe and regular pathways, robust protection systems, effective search and rescue operations, and accountability for smugglers and human traffickers."