Tragedy in Yemen: Shipwreck on one of the world's most dangerous routes leaves 86 migrants dead and 132 missing.

At least 86 bodies were recovered off the coast of southern Yemen after a boat capsized Saturday night, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with some 200 migrants on board, security sources in the southern province of Abyan told Efe on Tuesday.

The informants, who asked not to be identified, indicated that after the bodies of 27 migrants were recovered on Tuesday, the total death toll has risen to 86. They added that the bodies could not be identified because they were severely decomposed and were buried by authorities near the beach.

The IOM, for its part, lamented in a statement on Tuesday "the tragic loss of life following the sinking of a boat with 200 migrants on board, which occurred on August 3 off the coast of Shuqrah," in Abyan, and indicated that among the deceased —many of them Ethiopian nationals—are 14 women.

" The total number of missing people has reached 132. So far, 12 survivors have been found, all men," the UN agency added, citing the death toll of 56 previously provided by Yemeni authorities.

Yesterday, the head of the Ministry of Health's office in Abyan province, Abdelqader Bajameel, told Efe that the vast majority of the victims are of Ethiopian origin, specifically from the Oromo minority, a traditionally nomadic ethnic group found in Ethiopia but with a presence in northern Kenya and Somalia.

"This heartbreaking incident underscores the urgent need to address the dangers of irregular migration along the Eastern Route," IOM said, calling for prioritizing immediate lifesaving assistance and protection for vulnerable migrants, as well as efforts to address the root causes of these irregular movements.

He also congratulated the Yemeni authorities "for their swift response," while reiterating his commitment to supporting ongoing inter-agency efforts to identify and assist survivors, recover bodies, and provide support to affected families.

According to IOM, more than 350 migrant deaths and disappearances have been recorded along the Eastern Route since early 2025, although "the true figure is likely significantly higher."

The migration route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen is one of the most dangerous in the world, with thousands of migrants crossing each year despite the conflict and deteriorating conditions in Yemen, hoping to eventually reach Saudi Arabia and other wealthy Gulf countries in search of work.

In 2024, at least three such shipwrecks occurred, killing 92 people and leaving more than 150 missing after their boats capsized off the coast of Yemen.