Local officials report that at least 38 people from the Horn of Africa have perished after their boat capsized off the coast of Yemen. The vessel, carrying around 250 people, sank due to strong winds, according to survivors. The search is ongoing for nearly 100 individuals still missing.
The incident occurred near Rudum, east of Aden. Those on board were primarily Ethiopian migrants using Yemen as a transit point to reach Gulf states. Hadi Al-Khurma, director of the Rudum district, informed Reuters that the boat sank before reaching the shore. “Fishermen and residents managed to rescue 78 migrants, who reported that about 100 others are still missing. The search continues, and the United Nations has been informed,” he stated.
Despite Yemen’s ongoing conflict and recent Houthi assaults on ships in the Red Sea, the UN reports that 97,000 migrants arrived in Yemen from the Horn of Africa last year