Tragic Capsizing Highlights Migrant Dangers in Gulf of Aden

On August 3, 2025, a vessel carrying 154 Ethiopian migrants capsized in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen's Abyan province, resulting in at least 68 confirmed deaths and 74 individuals still missing. Only 12 survivors were rescued. The boat overturned due to adverse weather conditions, highlighting the extreme risks faced by migrants from the Horn of Africa attempting to reach Gulf countries via Yemen.

Despite Yemen's ongoing civil war and humanitarian crisis, the country remains a major transit route for migrants from East Africa seeking better economic opportunities in Gulf nations. In 2024, over 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen, a decrease from the 97,200 recorded in 2023, likely due to increased patrol efforts. The recent tragedy underscores the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to address the root causes of migration, enhance the safety of migration routes, and provide adequate support to those affected by such disasters.

The Gulf of Aden serves as a perilous corridor for migrants from the Horn of Africa, primarily Ethiopia and Somalia, seeking better economic opportunities in Gulf countries. Despite Yemen's ongoing civil war and humanitarian crisis, it remains a major transit route. In 2024, over 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen, a decrease from the 97,200 recorded in 2023, likely due to increased patrol efforts.

On August 3, 2025, a vessel carrying approximately 154 Ethiopian migrants capsized due to adverse weather conditions. The incident resulted in at least 68 confirmed deaths, with 74 individuals still missing. Only 12 survivors were rescued.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been actively involved in addressing the challenges faced by migrants along this route. In February 2025, the IOM and 45 humanitarian and development partners appealed for USD 81 million to provide lifesaving assistance to over one million migrants and host communities in the Horn of Africa, Yemen, and Southern Africa. This appeal aimed to address the urgent needs of migrants undertaking dangerous journeys, often facing life-threatening conditions, including starvation and dehydration.

This incident is part of a disturbing trend of maritime disasters involving migrants in the region. In March 2025, four boats capsized off Yemen and Djibouti, resulting in two confirmed deaths and 186 missing individuals. In 2024, at least three similar shipwrecks occurred, leading to 92 deaths and over 150 disappearances.

The recurring tragedies highlight the extreme risks migrants are willing to take to escape poverty and conflict in their home countries. Despite the end of Ethiopia's Tigray conflict in 2022, youth unemployment exceeds 20%, prompting many to undertake perilous journeys across the sea to reach Gulf countries, notably Saudi Arabia. Survivors recount harrowing experiences involving abuse by smugglers and exploitation abroad, often with little to show for it.

Yemen's ongoing civil war, which began in 2014, has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, making it a challenging environment for both residents and migrants. The Houthi movement's policies have further hindered humanitarian aid, restricting non-governmental organizations and enabling the diversion of resources. Since 2019, the Houthis established the Supreme Council for the Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (SCMCHA), centralizing control over aid and imposing bureaucratic obstacles.

Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Yemen, emphasized the urgency of the situation:

"These flights are not just a means of transport; they represent hope, dignity, and safety for those stranded and facing significant hardships."

The August 3, 2025, boat capsizing in the Gulf of Aden is a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis affecting migrants from the Horn of Africa. It underscores the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to address the root causes of migration, enhance the safety of migration routes, and provide adequate support to those affected by such tragedies.