ADDIS ABABA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- At least eight migrants have died and 22 others are missing after smugglers forced them to disembark off the coast of Djibouti, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday.
According to a statement by the United Nations migration agency, the boat, carrying around 150 people, was stopped at sea on June 5 by smugglers who forced the passengers to disembark far from the coast. The passengers "were left to swim for their lives in open water" after the incident.
Noting that the tragic incident left at least eight migrants dead and 22 others missing, the IOM said it is scaling up humanitarian response to the affected people in close coordination with Djiboutian authorities.
"Every life lost at sea is a tragedy that should never happen," the statement quoted Celestine Frantz, IOM regional director for the East, Horn and Southern Africa, as saying. "These young people were forced into impossible choices by smugglers who show no regard for human life. We are doing everything we can to support the survivors and prevent further loss along this deadly route."
Describing the latest tragedy as one of many similar deadly calamities that have occurred along Djibouti's Red Sea coast area, the IOM said the phenomenon underscores the urgent need for continuous protection mechanisms for migrants along the migration route between the Horn of Africa and Yemen. ■
