According to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 49 individuals have perished and 140 others remain unaccounted for after a boat filled with refugees and migrants sank off the coast of Yemen.

The vessel overturned on Monday, carrying approximately 260 people, predominantly from Ethiopia and Somalia. The group had embarked from northern Somalia, intending to traverse 320km (200 miles) across the Gulf of Aden to reach Yemen.

Refugees and migrants from the Horn of Africa and East Africa are increasingly risking this perilous route to access Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states through Yemen.

The IOM's statement on Tuesday reported that 71 people had been rescued, with eight transferred to a hospital. The fatalities included at least six children and 31 women.

In a related incident in April, two shipwrecks near Djibouti resulted in at least 62 deaths among those attempting to reach Yemen. The IOM reported that more than 1,860 individuals have died or disappeared on this route, including 480 who drowned.

The dangers of this journey have not dissuaded more refugees and migrants from attempting it. Despite Yemen's nearly decade-long conflict, which began with the Houthi group's rebellion and their seizing of large swathes of the country, migration continues.

The migration surge has also been fueled by the ramifications of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.

For several months, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been conducting attacks on commercial and military ships in the Gulf of Aden. These actions are intended to pressure Israel to halt its actions in Gaza, prompting retaliatory airstrikes from the United States and the United Kingdom aimed at protecting international interests.

The number of migrants arriving in Yemen annually has surged, tripling from 27,000 in 2021 to over 90,000 in 2023, per IOM data. Currently, approximately 380,000 migrants are in Yemen.

The sinking incident underscores the urgent need for collaborative efforts to tackle migration challenges and ensure the safety of those traversing migration routes, stated IOM spokesperson Mohammedali Abunajela.