The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Monday that a tragic boat sinking off the coast of the Comoros Islands resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people, including women, children, and infants, underscoring the dangers of migration routes in the region.
The IOM indicated that traffickers intentionally capsized the vessel on Friday night while it was traveling between Anjouan and Mayotte. Survivors revealed that around 30 individuals from various nationalities were aboard the boat, including seven women and four minors, aged six and two, along with two infants. Five survivors were rescued by fishermen the following morning.
This incident continues a distressing trend in the area, with two similar tragedies occurring in the last three months. In September, a boat carrying 12 individuals, including two children and a pregnant woman, disappeared while trying to reach Mayotte from Anjouan. In August, another accident claimed the lives of eight people, including a 12-year-old boy.
The United Nations has reported that thousands have died while attempting to navigate this perilous migration route to reach Mayotte, a disputed island in the Comoros archipelago that is also a French department, since 2011. The increasing number of fatalities highlights the urgent need for improved migration policies and protections for vulnerable populations.
