The incident occurred around 4 a.m. local time on Monday, about 200 meters offshore near the coastal town of Obock.
Twenty-two people were rescued by local fishermen and are receiving treatment and support from IOM, the agency's spokesperson Yvonne Ndege told UN News in an exclusive interview.
At least six other people are believed to be missing and dead. A total of about 66 migrants were on board as they crossed the Gulf of Aden from Yemen to Djibouti.
Frequently taken route
Every year, thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa, particularly Ethiopia and Somalia, leave their homelands for work in the Gulf countries, crossing the Gulf of Aden via Djibouti.
However, many are stranded in Yemen, facing severe hardship amid the ongoing war and economic crisis there.
They are also at risk of abuse by smugglers and traffickers, and must contend with dangerous sea journeys when returning home.
“In terms of this tragedy, they were migrants from the Horn of Africa, mainly on their way back to Djibouti from Ethiopia,” Ndege said.
Further drone attacks on Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are an 'ominous development'
Further drone attacks on Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Zaporozhye mark an “ominous development” and signify a significant deterioration of safety and security, the IAEA, the head of the UN's nuclear power watchdog, said on Tuesday. .
Secretary General Rafael Grossi said on Sunday that a team of authorities' experts stationed at the Russian-occupied factory had examined the impact of multiple similar attacks on the Russian-occupied factory. and reported hearing a loud explosion followed by a loud explosion.
This was the same time the factory later announced that an incoming drone exploded on the roof of the facility's training center.
The incident adds to the already highly unstable nuclear security at ZNPP, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which has been shelled several times and lost all off-site power on eight occasions since the conflict began in February 2022. There are further concerns about the security situation.
The training center is located just outside the perimeter of the site, approximately half a kilometer from reactor number 1, and the accident has no impact on nuclear safety and security at ZNPP, where all six reactors have been shut down for the past 20 months. posed no threat. .
'Playing with fire'
However, ZNPP staff are stationed there. The IAEA team requested immediate access to the building to assess the possible impact, but was informed that this was not possible due to the military security situation.
“The incidents reported today pose a grave risk to nuclear safety and security and demonstrate a clear readiness to continue these attacks despite our repeated calls for military restraint. “It's out of bounds, but it's a creepy development,” Grossi said. .
“Whoever is behind them, they are playing with fire. Attacks on nuclear power plants are extremely irresponsible and dangerous and must stop.”
More than 200,000 people need humanitarian aid after Madagascar cyclone
An estimated 220,000 people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance due to the devastating effects of Tropical Cyclone Gamane, which struck northeastern Madagascar on Tuesday.
The storm made landfall in northeastern Madagascar on March 27, wreaking havoc in the regions of Analandjilofo, Diana, Atsina Nana, and Sava.
More than 535,000 people were affected by Tropical Cyclone Gamane in northeastern Madagascar.
“The cyclone is exacerbating the suffering of a people already suffering from multiple crises,” said Roger Charles Evina, IOM Head of Mission to Madagascar.
“El Nino has brought extreme rainfall over the past few months and residents of Grand Sadd are bracing for severe drought, while Tropical Storm Alvaro in January and excessive rainfall in February have caused Major flooding in the southwest, affecting nearby areas.'' 52,000 people. ”
In response to the devastation caused, IOM participated in a joint aerial assessment conducted by humanitarian partners and the National Risk and Disaster Management Agency on 30 March.
Initial reports said more than 535,000 people were affected in 33 flooded communes, with 18 killed and 22,000 evacuated.
Nearly 19,000 homes were flooded and extensive damage was reported to roads and critical infrastructure, including 22 health centers and 135 schools.
More than 2,200 hectares of rice fields are at risk of siltation, endangering the livelihoods of residents across the affected areas.