Yemen: Smuggling Boat Grounds Off Shabwa Coast; Nine Migrants Dead

Authorities in Yemen's Shabwa Governorate reported on Friday the arrival of a new wave of irregular migrants from the Horn of Africa after a smuggling vessel, identified as "Al-Qiyadi," deposited approximately 150 migrants onto the coast of Al-Jawiri in the Radum district.

The police statement specified that the majority of the migrants reaching the shore were Ethiopian nationals, all of whom were adult males. Tragically, the journey resulted in the deaths of nine individuals during the sea crossing.

According to the official report, the smuggling boat ran aground offshore due to severe winds and high waves. This incident forced the migrants to attempt reaching the shore by swimming under harsh maritime conditions, which directly led to the nine fatalities.

The police confirmed that necessary legal procedures have been initiated to manage the ongoing influx of irregular migration originating from the Horn of Africa, aiming to mitigate associated security and humanitarian consequences.

Furthermore, the governorate's coastal areas, particularly the Radum district, have witnessed the arrival of roughly 4,396 Ethiopian migrants over the past two months amid recurring waves of irregular migration into the country via smuggling operations launched from the Horn of Africa's shores toward Yemen.