At least 92 people drowned when a vessel they were using to cross the Bab al-Mandab Strait from Djibouti to Yemen sank last weekend. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said around 200 people were on board. Most of the deceased and missing are Ethiopians.

Despite the dangers of crossing Bab al-Mandab (meaning the "Gate of Grief"), which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, more people are using this so-called Eastern Route every year. In 2023, around 395,000 people attempted to cross, according to the IOM. Last year, it was about 446,000, representing a 13% increase.

From 2023 to 2024, most of the 234,000 migrants using this route were from Ethiopia, with people from Somalia the second-highest number. According to the IOM, 90% of migrants are fleeing economic crises, while most others are escaping armed conflict and persecution. A much smaller portion consists of

© Deutsche Welle