Death toll rises to 139 after migrant boat capsizes off Djibouti

The boat went down during the night of Oct. 8-9 near Guehere, north of the port town of Obock. The death toll rose from 109 after 30 more bodies were recovered, the International Organization for Migration said. About 82 people survived, while search and recovery operations continued. The shipwreck is among the deadliest recorded on the Eastern Route, a migration corridor used by people traveling from the Horn of Africa toward Yemen and other destinations in the Arabian Peninsula. The African Union Commission expressed sorrow over the disaster in a statement issued Sunday. Its chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, offered condolences to the families of those killed and called for stronger regional and international cooperation to address irregular migration, migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The statement initially cited 109 deaths, the toll reported before the recovery of the additional bodies. "No one gets into a boat like that unless they believe there is no other safe way," Pope said. "We cannot keep treating these deaths as normal. Safe and legal pathways save lives." said IOM Director General Amy Pope calling on governments and donors to expand safe and legal migration routes to prevent further loss of life. Djiboutian authorities continued search and recovery efforts as concerns grew for those still missing. The IOM said it was providing emergency assistance to survivors at its Migrant Response Centre in Obock, including health care, psychosocial support, food, shelter and protection services. Yemen remains a key transit point for migrants from the Horn of Africa, many of whom undertake dangerous sea crossings in search of work and better living conditions. Overcrowded vessels and hazardous travel conditions expose migrants to the risk of drowning and other dangers along the route. The African Union Commission said it remained committed to working with member states and international partners to protect migrants, particularly children and other vulnerable people, and to prevent similar tragedies.