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About 20 immigrants drowned on Wednesday after smugglers dumped dozens of people into the sea in the Gulf of Aden between Djibouti and Yemen, the International Organization for Migration announced Thursday.
“Survivors believe that at least 20 people died. Some of them are still missing. Five bodies were found off the coast of Djibouti,” Yvonne Ndeji, the organization’s spokeswoman for the East and Horn of Africa, told AFP.
Survivors treated by the International Organization for Migration in the city of Obock, Djibouti, reported that at least 200 migrants were crammed onto the ship that left Djibouti on Wednesday morning.
“The smugglers forced 80 people to jump into the sea”
“After 30 minutes of navigation, the smugglers forced about 80 people to jump into the sea,” the organization said in a statement Thursday. Only 60 people have returned to the beach, Ndeji said.
“We are working closely with the Djibouti authorities to provide assistance to migrants, but Wednesday’s tragedy is further proof that criminals continue to exploit people who are willing to do anything to improve their living conditions, in exchange for money and for nothing, “said the statement issued by Stephanie Davio, an IOM official in Djibouti. Considerations for results “.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait, which separates Djibouti and Yemen, is witnessing the smuggling of migrants and refugees in both directions, Yemenis fleeing war and Africans trying to reach the Arabian Peninsula.
This is the third incident in the last six months, according to the International Organization for Migration. Last October, eight Ethiopian migrants died in similar conditions and 12 were reported missing. The victims were leaving in the opposite direction from Yemen to Djibouti after their attempt to reach Saudi Arabia failed due to border closures as part of measures to combat Covid-19.
