The tragedy highlights the risks along a key migration corridor connecting the Horn of Africa to the Gulf, as thousands continue to make the crossing in search of economic opportunities
At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, have died after an overcrowded boat capsized off the coast of Djibouti while travelling towards Yemen.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 116 people remain missing following the shipwreck near Guhere, north of Obock, during the night of 8–9 October 2026.
Survivors reported that the vessel was travelling from Djibouti to Yemen when it capsized. The 109 bodies recovered include 52 men, 42 women and 15 children, including nine girls and six boys. More than 80 people survived, all of them Ethiopian nationals.
The IOM is assisting 64 survivors at its Obock Migrant Response Centre, providing healthcare, psychosocial support, protection services, temporary shelter and food assistance. The agency is also helping survivors reconnect with their families.
“This is a devastating loss of life. Our thoughts are with the survivors and the families who have lost loved ones or remain without news of their relatives,” said Alexandre Coissac, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti.
“Our teams are on the ground alongside local authorities to provide emergency assistance. This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants along this migration corridor as they seek economic opportunities,” he added.
Migration corridor remains active despite risks
Despite ongoing violence and insecurity in Yemen, migrants continue to undertake the perilous crossing in the hope of reaching Gulf countries in search of employment and better economic prospects.
IOM data indicate that the movement from Ethiopia into Djibouti remains significant. Since September 10, 2026, more than 20,000 incoming movements from Ethiopia into Djibouti have been recorded by the agency’s Displacement Tracking Matrix.
The risks along the route remain substantial. According to the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, more than 900 migrants died or went missing along this corridor in 2025, while the number of people undertaking the journey increased by 18%.
Another shipwreck in March 2026 left nine people dead and 45 missing, further highlighting the dangers confronting migrants travelling along the route.