Shipwreck in Djibouti: The death toll rises to 139 and 84 people are still missing

The number of victims increased from 109 after 30 more bodies were discovered. Search and rescue efforts continue.

The ship was carrying 305 people from Djibouti to Yemen when it sank near Guehere, north of Obock, in the early hours of Friday. About 82 people survived.

IOM described it as one of the deadliest shipwrecks recorded in the Eastern Passage, which stretches from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula.

Move, even if there are risks

The ship accident occurred as Djibouti faced continuing traffic in both directions.

Since September 10, The IOM Refugee Tracking Matrix has recorded more than 20,000 movements to the country from Ethiopiaas migrants continue to head towards the Gulf despite renewed large-scale fighting in Yemen.

During roughly the same period, more than 3,700 refugees have arrived from Yemenwhile 539 Ethiopian migrants have returned from there.

Alexandre Coissac, IOM’s head of mission in Djibouti, told journalists in Geneva on October 6 that the country was facing “overlapping emergencies”.

“Therefore, Djibouti faces movements from both directions,” Coissac said, adding that migrants are increasingly strandedwith more than 3,000 people seen along the route in Djibouti between 20 and 30 September, often without access to basic services.

“No one gets into a boat like that unless they are sure there is no other safe way,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope.

Safe passage ‘saves lives’: Pope

“We cannot continue to take these deaths for granted. Safe and legal pathways can save lives. I call on governments and donors to act before the next ship sinks.”

Djiboutian authorities are continuing search and recovery operations as concerns grow about those still unaccounted for.

IOM provided emergency assistance to survivors at the Migrant Response Center in Obock, including health services, psychosocial support, food, shelter and protection services.

‘Very sad’

The UN Resident Coordinator in Djibouti, Jose Barahona, admitted that he was deeply saddened by the loss of at least 139 lives, including children.

“Our thoughts are with the victims, survivors and families waiting to hear from their loved ones,” Barahona said on social media. “We express our solidarity and welcome the ongoing search and rescue efforts.”

Every life lost at sea is a tragedy, he added, recalling the Secretary-General’s recent warning that such deaths underscore the importance of protecting people on the move, expanding safe migration routes and strengthening international cooperation.