Nairobi, Kenya
Reuters
At least 34 people drowned when a boat carrying migrants from Yemen capsized off the coast of Djibouti, the International Organisation for Migration said on Monday.
Bodies of suspected migrants who died after their boat capsized are seen arranged after they were retrieved off the Coast of Djibouti, on 12th April. PICTURE: International Organization for Migration/Handout via Reuters
The boat, which was being controlled by people smugglers, is believed to have been carrying 60 passengers, IOM said on its Twitter feed, without providing further details such as when the incident occurred.
Drownings have become common in the waters off Djibouti, and typically involve migrants from Ethiopia or Somalia trying to escape poverty and war at home by finding work in Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates.
They include would-be migrants who have become stranded in Yemen after failing to cross into Saudi Arabia, sometimes due to coronavirus restrictions, and drown on the return crossing.
