Yemen/Geneva, March 7, 2025 – Two boats carrying more than 180 migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen's Dubab district on Thursday, according to an International Organization for Migration (IOM) field report. The incident occurred amid some of the worst weather conditions over the years, as explained in local reports.
The ship, which attempted a dangerous journey from the Horn of Africa, sank into the rough seas, a known risk during this season. There were at least 124 men and 57 women on board. Two Yemeni crews were rescued, but all passengers and the rest of the crew were threatened to be dead, and the bodies had not been recovered so far.
The boat capsized after smugglers failed to pay attention to weathering warnings issued by Yemeni civil aviation and weather authorities. Migrants who have arrived at the Yemeni immigrants' reaction point report that smugglers are becoming more reckless and intentionally send boats into dangerous conditions and avoid patrols.
“These latest shipwrecks are a calm reminder of the critical dangers that migrants endure in search of a better future,” said Abdusattor Esoev, mission chief for Yemen's IOM. “Smugglers continued to gamble in human life, pushing people on dangerous journeys despite clear weather warnings. Without urgent action, more lives could be lost and more families would be sad.”
Those who survive a journey to Yemen often find themselves trapped in misery. Migrants passing through the country are frequently exposed to violence, detention, forced labor and other forms of exploitation. Many face lures and terror at the hands of human traffickers and armed groups, while others are stuck without the means to continue their journey or return home.
But despite these dangers, thousands of people continue their journey every year. Over 60,000 immigrants have arrived in Yemen last year alone. Since 2014, IOM's Missing Migrants Project has recorded more than 3,400 deaths and losses along the eastern route, which includes more than 580 women and 100 children. Of these deaths, 1,400 were caused by drowning.
IOM continues to provide life-saving support to Yemeni migrants, including food, healthcare, protective services and voluntary humanitarian return. However, the scale of needs far outweighs the resources available. With funding cuts that have a serious impact on humanitarian efforts, the IOM fears that more migrants will remain left behind in Yemen indefinitely, with little access to food, shelters or healthcare.
As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, the IOM will encourage greater international action to protect immigrants and address drivers underlying irregular migration. Emergency support is needed to establish safer travel paths and prevent further loss of life.
Notes to the editor:
IOM's Missing Migrants project is the only open access database of mortality and loss of immigrants worldwide to measure safe movement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).
The IOM, together with other humanitarian development organisations and governments, is coordinating the 2025 Regional Immigration Response Plan to the Horn of Africa and South Africa (MRP) to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of immigrants along the eastern route.
Please contact us for more details.
Yemen: Monica Ciliac, mchiriac@iom.int
Cairo: Joe Laurie, jlowry@iom.int
Geneva: Kennedio Cos, kokoth@iom.int
