At Least 49 Dead After Migrant Boat Sinks Off Yemen
At least 49 people have died after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Yemen, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The IOM said in a statement that the boat was carrying 57 people, including women and children, when it sank on Sunday.
The organization said that the boat was believed to be heading to Saudi Arabia, which has been a popular destination for migrants from Yemen and other countries in the region.
The IOM said that the exact number of casualties is still unknown, as the search and rescue operation is ongoing.
The incident comes as the number of migrants attempting to cross the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia has increased in recent months, according to the IOM.
The organization said that the majority of the migrants are from Yemen, Ethiopia, and Somalia, and are fleeing conflict, poverty, and lack of opportunities in their home countries.
The IOM said that the journey is dangerous and often deadly, with migrants facing the risk of drowning, being attacked by pirates, or being intercepted by authorities and returned to their home countries.
The organization called on the international community to provide more support to migrants and to ensure that their rights are protected.
“We urge the international community to step up its support to migrants and to ensure that their rights are respected and protected,” the IOM said in a statement. “This includes providing safe and legal pathways for migration, as well as ensuring that migrants are not subjected to abuse, exploitation, or violence.”
The IOM also called on the authorities in Yemen and Saudi Arabia to take action to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.
“We call on the authorities in Yemen and Saudi Arabia to take immediate action to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future,” the organization said. “This includes improving the conditions for migrants in detention centers, ensuring that migrants are not subjected to abuse or exploitation, and providing safe and legal pathways for migration.”
The IOM said that it is working with the authorities in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, as well as with other organizations, to provide assistance to the survivors of the boat accident and to support the search and rescue operation.