The United Nations has launched a rescue operation after eight migrants died and 22 remain missing off Djibouti’s coast.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), smugglers forced 150 people to jump into the sea on June 5.
The migrants, mainly from East Africa, were attempting to cross to the Gulf when they were abandoned offshore and told to swim.
IOM patrols discovered survivors wandering in the desert and brought them to a local migrant response centre for emergency care.
Search and rescue efforts continue in coordination with Djiboutian authorities, as hopes fade for the missing.
“Every life lost at sea is a tragedy that should never happen,” said Celestine Frantz, IOM Regional Director for East, Horn and Southern Africa.
She condemned the smugglers’ actions, saying they forced migrants into “impossible choices” with no regard for human life.
This incident highlights the perilous journeys many migrants endure while fleeing poverty, conflict, or persecution.
Each year, thousands from Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia risk everything for a better future in Europe.
Most cross the Red Sea toward Gulf countries, using Yemen as a dangerous transit point on their journey.
The sea route is notorious for overcrowded vessels, ruthless smugglers, and deadly conditions that claim countless lives.
Despite international efforts, irregular migration continues to surge, driven by desperation and lack of safe alternatives.
The IOM has called for stronger international cooperation to address the root causes of migration and protect vulnerable lives.
As the sea gives up more of its dead, the world watches, once again reminded of the human cost behind the headlines.