The number of migrants who died on the "eastern route" linking the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula doubled to a record 922 last year, the United Nations migration agency announced Wednesday.
Tens of thousands of migrants from Ethiopia , Somalia and neighboring countries use this route across the Red Sea each year , mainly from Djibouti to Yemen, in search of work as laborers or domestic workers in the wealthy Gulf countries.
"2025 was the deadliest year ever recorded on the eastern migration route… with 922 people dead or missing — double the number of the previous year," Tanja Pacifico, head of mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Djibouti, told AFP.
The majority of the victims were from Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous country with over 130 million inhabitants. The country is plagued by numerous internal conflicts and profound poverty.
"IOM remains fully committed to working alongside the Government of Djibouti to promote safe and dignified migration pathways, in order to prevent further tragedies ," Pacifico added.
Many migrants crossing the Red Sea find themselves stranded in Yemen , the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, which has been embroiled in civil war for almost a decade, and some even choose to return home.
According to the IOM, rapid economic growth in Ethiopia — estimated at around 10% in 2026 — could reduce migration flows , but this effect is mitigated by high inflation, also around 10% in February.
