The Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti has confirmed that all 48 victims of the fatal migrant incident off Djibouti’s coast were Ethiopian nationals.
The tragedy occurred on October 1, 2024, when two overloaded boats, carrying a total of 320 migrants from Yemen, capsized in the waters near Djibouti.
A statement from the embassy revealed that a team sent to the scene confirmed the identity of all deceased as Ethiopian citizens. Of the 320 passengers, 197 were rescued and transferred to a refugee camp in Obock, Djibouti, while 75 remain missing, according to officials.
Expressing profound grief over the disaster, the embassy called for stronger international efforts to combat human trafficking.
It underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation to halt illegal migration and announced that the Ethiopian government would take decisive measures against those involved in human trafficking networks.
According to survivor accounts, smugglers forced migrants into the sea after the boats became dangerously overcrowded. One boat carried around 100 people, while the other held 210.
Early reports from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirm this version of events.
This tragic incident is part of a disturbing pattern, with similar accidents involving Ethiopian migrants reported throughout the year.
In August, a boat capsized near Yemen’s Ta’iz governorate, resulting in the deaths of 13 people, while 14 others were declared missing.
Comparable accidents in July and June claimed the lives of dozens more, as migrants continue to risk their lives on perilous sea crossings.