Two vessels carrying migrants from Africa sank in the Red Sea off the coast of Djibouti, resulting in the tragic loss of 45 lives, the U.N. migration agency reported on Tuesday.
The boats, which had set sail from Yemen, were transporting 310 people, according to the International Organization for Migration. Each year, thousands of migrants from African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian countries embark on perilous journeys to Europe, driven by the hope of a better future. Smugglers often cram these vessels to their limits, exploiting the desperation of people willing to risk everything to reach Europe.
The U.N. agency, actively involved in the search and rescue operations, shared on the social media platform X that 32 survivors had been rescued. Djibouti’s coast guard provided further details, noting that the incident occurred approximately 150 meters, or around 500 feet, off a beach near the northwest Khor Angar region. The coast guard also confirmed that a collaborative rescue mission had been launched early Monday, ultimately rescuing 115 survivors.
In a statement accompanied by images of white body bags, the agency expressed its unwavering commitment to locating the missing persons and ensuring the safety of those who survived.
