At least 68 refugees and migrants died after their boat capsized off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, August 3, with 74 others remaining missing following the maritime disaster in the Gulf of Aden.

The vessel, carrying 154 people predominantly of Ethiopian nationality, sank in waters off Yemen’s southern province of Abyan. Only 12 survivors were rescued from the wreckage, according to Abdusattor Esoev, head of the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Yemen.

Rescue operations continued late into Sunday evening as authorities worked to locate additional survivors and recover bodies scattered across a wide area of shoreline. The bodies of 54 refugees and migrants washed ashore in the district of Khanfar, while 14 others were found dead at a different location and transported to a hospital morgue.

Abdul Qader Bajamil, a senior health official in the province, indicated that authorities were making arrangements to bury the victims near the city of Shaqra while search operations continued under difficult conditions. Yemeni health authorities had initially reported 54 fatalities before the death toll was revised upward.

Among the survivors, nine were identified as Ethiopian nationals and one as Yemeni. Esoev emphasized the dangers of the route, stating, “What we are advocating for all member states… is to enhance their regular pathways.”

The waterways between Yemen and the Horn of Africa represent one of the world’s busiest and most perilous migration routes. Migrants, primarily from Ethiopia and Somalia, regularly attempt the dangerous crossing with hopes of reaching Saudi Arabia or other Gulf nations in search of employment opportunities.

The IOM reported that more than 60,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024, marking a significant decrease from the previous year’s total of 97,200. The reduced numbers coincide with increased patrols of the waters, according to an IOM report released in May.

The route has claimed hundreds of lives over recent years. The IOM documented 558 deaths along the route in 2024 alone. Since early 2025, the IOM has reported over 350 cases of migrant deaths and disappearances along the Eastern Route, though the real number is likely much higher.

Yemen has served as both a destination and transit country for migrants despite ongoing humanitarian challenges. The country experienced a spike in departures after civil war erupted in 2014, when Houthi rebels and government forces engaged in prolonged conflict.

A truce agreement reached in April 2022 between Houthi rebels and Yemen’s internationally recognized government has resulted in decreased violence and a slight improvement in the humanitarian crisis. However, the country continues to face significant security and economic challenges.

People smugglers transport migrants across the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden using often dangerous, overcrowded vessels. Recent reports indicate that smugglers have become increasingly reckless, knowingly sending boats into hazardous conditions to evade maritime patrols.

Yemen currently houses approximately 380,000 refugees and migrants, according to IOM estimates. Many migrants become stranded in Yemen, facing harsh conditions, abuse, or detention while attempting to continue their journeys to Gulf countries.

The latest tragedy follows a pattern of deadly incidents along the migration route. In March, two boats carrying more than 180 migrants sank off Yemen’s Dhubab district due to rough seas, with only two crew members rescued. In January, 20 Ethiopians were killed when their boat capsized off Yemen.

The IOM has repeatedly called for enhanced legal migration pathways to prevent migrants from being exploited by smugglers and undertaking dangerous journeys. The organization advocates for member states to strengthen regular migration channels as an alternative to the perilous sea crossings.

Abyan security officials confirmed that a large search-and-rescue mission had been launched following Sunday’s capsizing, with rescue teams discovering bodies across an extensive stretch of coastline. The boat was traveling on a route frequently used by people smugglers in the vast coastal area