Sanaa: A vessel carrying African migrants sank off the coast of Yemen, killing dozens, the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday. The tragedy unfolded when the boat, which was transporting 154 migrants, capsized early in the morning. Sixty-eight individuals lost their lives, while 74 remain missing.

According to Deutsche Welle, Yemen continues to be a key transit point for migrants, despite the ongoing civil war that has plagued the country for a decade. Many Ethiopians and other Africans attempt to reach wealthy Arab nations, like Saudi Arabia, in search of better opportunities. A significant Ethiopian diaspora resides in Saudi Arabia, with notable communities also present in the UAE and Bahrain.

The journey through Yemen is fraught with danger, as migrants must navigate the conflict between the Iran-linked Houthis and the UN-recognized government. Human Rights Watch reported in 2020 that the Houthis had targeted Ethiopian migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in deaths and expulsions.

Ethiopia's challenges, including high poverty levels and the aftermath of conflict in the Tigray region, have pushed many citizens to seek better prospects abroad. An IOM report from March indicated that 60,000 migrants ventured to Yemen in 2024, highlighting the perilous journey from the Horn of Africa to Yemen, one of the world's busiest mixed migration routes.

The Horn of Africa, comprising Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Somaliland, faces severe drought conditions exacerbated by climate change. These environmental challenges, along with food insecurity, drive many to leave the region in hopes of reaching the affluent Gulf Arab states or Europe.