Dangerous sea journey for a better life!

• A deadly shipwreck occurred off the coast of Yemen, involving a boat carrying migrants, mostly Ethiopians.• Initial reports indicated at least 68 deaths and 74 missing, while later figures from Yemeni security officials stated 76 bodies had been recovered and 32 people rescued. The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) said 154 or 157 people were on board.• The incident happened off Yemen’s Abyan province, a frequent destination for boats smuggling African migrants.• The waterways between Yemen and the Horn of Africa are a common but perilous route for migrants seeking to reach wealthier Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for work. This route is described as one of the "busiest and most perilous" in the world.• Migrants are often transported by smugglers on dangerous, overcrowded boats across the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden. Smugglers have become more reckless, knowingly sending boats into dangerous conditions to avoid patrols.• The journey is fraught with risks, with hundreds dying or going missing in shipwrecks off Yemen in recent months and years. For example, the IOM recorded 558 deaths on the Red Sea route last year, with 462 from boat accidents.• Despite Yemen's ongoing civil war since 2014, it remains a key transit point for irregular migration, particularly from Ethiopia, which faces high youth unemployment (over 20%).• Those who make the crossing often face additional threats in Yemen, including abuse and exploitation, and tens of thousands have become stranded there. Some deported migrants attempt the crossing again.• Ethiopian officials have urged citizens to use legal avenues for migration and avoid traffickers.• Rescue operations were launched by Yemeni health authorities and security forces to find the missing and recover bodies, with conditions described as difficult. Many bodies were found scattered across a wide area of the shore