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By Giulia Paravicini
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – At least 8 migrants have died and 12 are missing at sea after being forced to abandon ship by smugglers off the coast of Djibouti, the UN migration agency said on Sunday.
The 34 migrants on board are believed to be Ethiopians attempting to return to the Horn of Africa after failing to cross into Yemen.
Fourteen survivors are receiving medical treatment in Djibouti, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.
Thousands of Ethiopian workers bound for Saudi Arabia cross Yemen every month, but restrictions aimed at slowing the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the war-torn country have made the journey even more dangerous, forcing many to to return.
“This tragedy is a wake-up call. Hundreds of migrants leave Yemen every day, trying to reach Djibouti, risking their lives, facing exploitation by human smugglers and, in this case, very tragically, dead and injured, “said an IOM spokeswoman.
To date, 14,000 migrants, mostly Ethiopians, are stranded in Yemen trying to return to their home country. In the last three weeks alone, 2,000 arrived in Djibouti, the IOM said.
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