Amman, October 11 (Petra) – At least 109 migrants, including 15 children, have died and more than 116 others remain missing after a boat carrying 350 people capsised off the coast of Djibouti, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) announced Sunday.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Alexander Kwasak, the IOM's Chief of Mission in Djibouti, described the incident as a tragic loss of life and expressed solidarity with the survivors and the families of those killed or missing.

He said the boat was traveling from Djibouti to Yemen when it capsised near the Godoria area, north of the city of Obock, during the night of October 8–9.

The IOM said the recovered bodies included 52 men, 42 women and 15 children nine girls and six boys. More than 80 people survived the incident, all of them Ethiopian nationals.

Djibouti authorities are continuing search-and-rescue operations, while the IOM is providing survivors with healthcare, psychosocial support, temporary shelter and food assistance, as well as helping them contact their families.

The tragedy highlights the dangers migrants face along the migration route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen, which tens of thousands of people undertake each year in search of safety, stability and employment opportunities in Gulf countries.

The IOM called on donors and international partners to increase support for Djibouti, particularly for search-and-rescue operations and emergency humanitarian assistance and to expand safe migration pathways to prevent further loss of life.

//Petra// AK