In the second accident in a week, at least 45 African migrants, mostly Somalis and Ethiopians, died as their boat capsized off the Gulf of Aden. The Yemeni Interior Ministry said the boat which was carrying about 46 displaced people overturned 95 kilometers southeast of the Mukala seaport. The ministry Media Center reported that an Ethiopian and three human smugglers made it to land.

The Yemeni authorities became aware about the accident through one of the survivors, a Somali sailor aged 35. Later Authorities in coordination with the Yemeni Fishermen Association seized the boat owners and investigated them. The arrestees confessed their boat capsized off the Mukala port while they were trying to make a shortcut to smuggle 46 displaced African people into Yemen.

They said all who were onboard drowned except an Ethiopian who could swim until he reached Yemeni coast. On February 24, six Somali refugees died and 11 others were missing when human smugglers forced them to jump overboard in deep water.

The boat was one of seven boats that carried African displaced people to Yemen of which six had already arrived in Yemeni coasts. While the seven refused to sail closer to shore with its crew forcing its passengers to swim in deep waters.

In January, the UNHRC reported that 168 boats carried 9449 African refugees to Yemen of whom 47 Somali refugees died on way. In January, two ferries carrying more than 300 Somali and Ethiopian migrants capsized off the Bab El-Mandab strait. Hundreds were rescued and dozens were missing presumed dead. Somali refugees continue to arrive in Yemen almost in daily numbers, with the number of those, according to last figures, who have already arrived in Yemen exceeding 800.000 people.