At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, died and dozens more are still missing after a boat sank off the coast of Djibouti, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Friday. The vessel, carrying 350 people, capsized near the port town of Obock on Thursday night. Around 80 people were rescued, the IOM reported.
IOM’s Djibouti mission chief Alexandre Coissac described the tragedy as a “stark reminder” of the dangers migrants face while seeking a new life elsewhere. He said, “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.”
Local authorities are arranging burials for those who have died, while the survivors – all Ethiopian nationals – have medical care readily available to them. The UN agency is working in close collaboration with local authorities to help migrants and prevent deaths at sea and on land.
Since 10 September, the IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix has recorded more than 20,000 “movements” from Ethiopia to Djibouti. The agency is providing assistance to 64 of the survivors at its response centre in Obock, including healthcare and support to restore contact with their families.
In 2025, more than 900 migrants died or went missing taking the same route, with an 18% increase in the number of people attempting the journey. A similar incident in March 2026 claimed nine lives and left 45 missing.
