The IOM described the incident as one of the deadliest shipwrecks recorded along the Eastern Route, which connects the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula.

The disaster highlights the dangers facing migrants travelling along the route in search of employment and better living conditions. The boat capsized during the sea crossing, leaving dozens of people missing as search and rescue efforts continued.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Djibouti, Jose Barahona, said he was deeply saddened by the loss of at least 139 lives, including children.

“Our thoughts are with the victims, the survivors and the families waiting for news of their loved ones,” Barahona said in a social media post. “We express our solidarity and welcome the ongoing search and rescue efforts.”

The IOM also called for greater action to prevent further deaths along the migration corridor, urging governments and donors to expand safe and legal migration options.

“We cannot keep treating these deaths as normal. Safe and legal pathways save lives. I am asking governments and donors to act before the next boat goes down,” the organisation said.

More than 900 people died or went missing along the Eastern Route in 2025, according to figures cited by the IOM.

The route is frequently used by migrants travelling from Ethiopia through Djibouti to Yemen. Despite the risks, many continue to undertake the crossing in the hope of finding work and improving their living conditions.

The journey exposes migrants to serious dangers, including overcrowded boats, shipwrecks, trafficking and exploitation. Those who reach Yemen may also face insecurity and difficult humanitarian conditions.

Economic hardship, limited employment opportunities and conflict are among the factors that can push people to leave their homes in search of alternatives elsewhere. For many, the decision to migrate involves weighing uncertain prospects against the challenges they face at home.

The Eastern Route remains an important migration corridor between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, with Djibouti serving as a transit point for people attempting to cross the Gulf of Aden to Yemen.