New Delhi: A boat full of migrants capsized off the coast of Djibouti in East Africa. At least 109 people died in this accident, including 15 children. A total of 305 people were aboard the boat. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday that the boat was going from Djibouti to Yemen when the accident occurred on Thursday night or Friday morning.
52 men, 42 women died
According to IOM, those killed include 52 men, 42 women and 15 children, while more than 80 people have been rescued. The organization said that every year thousands of people from the Horn of Africa region cross the Bab el-Mandeb strait via Djibouti towards the Gulf countries in search of a better life and employment. This dangerous journey continues despite the ongoing violence in Yemen.
IOM mission chief in Djibouti, Alexandre Koissac, said that this is a very horrific incident. This tragedy is a reminder of the great dangers migrants face on this route in search of economic opportunities.
Migration from Yemen continues
On the other hand, a large number of people from war-torn Yemen are crossing the Red Sea and taking refuge in Djibouti. The UN migration agency has warned that many more Yemenis are preparing to cross boats to Djibouti. Currently, more than 2 thousand Yemenis are in Djibouti, who are being provided food and shelter by the government and IOM. For the last 12 years, government and Saudi coalition forces have been fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Tension increases in Bab al-Mandeb
Meanwhile, Saudi-led forces have intensified their operations in Yemen. A major ground and air offensive launched over the weekend aims to retake the western Red Sea coast and areas around Bab al-Mandeb that the Houthis captured about a month ago. Bab al-Mandeb is an important sea route, which is considered an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. Due to the ongoing tension with Iran, the movement of ships through Hormuz has reduced, hence the events in this area have become very important for global trade and security.
Saudi Arabia is being targeted since July
The Houthi group has been targeting Saudi Arabia since July. According to the United Nations, this fighting has displaced more than 2 lakh people in Yemen. Last month, the Houthis captured the entire west coast. The Yemen government has said it will take back all the territory, while Saudi Arabia has asked for help from the US. Although President Donald Trump refused to attack the Houthis, but has approved the proposal to provide 48 F-35 fighter planes to Saudi Arabia for $24.3 billion.