Yemen – A series of mass drowning incidents across Yemen’s coastal and inland regions since September have claimed the lives of at least 12 women, according to local authorities and humanitarian sources. 

The tragedies highlight the growing risks faced by vulnerable communities amid ongoing instability, poor infrastructure, and limited access to safe transportation.

The most devastating of these incidents occurred off the western coast near Kamaran Island, where a boat carrying passengers to a wedding from the village of Khuba capsized in the Red Sea. Eleven women and three children died in the accident, with survivors reporting that only men who could swim managed to escape the sinking vessel.

In a separate case, a government report revealed that 221 people drowned in Yemen during 2024, including dozens of African migrants and women attempting to cross treacherous waters or navigate flood-prone areas. The coastal governorates of Taiz, Hadramaut, and Shabwa recorded the highest number of fatalities, with Taiz witnessing a particularly deadly incident involving the capsizing of a migrant boat that left 45 people dead.

Local officials and humanitarian workers attribute the rise in drowning deaths to a combination of factors: unsafe travel conditions, lack of regulation for maritime transport, and the absence of emergency response infrastructure in remote areas. Seasonal floods and the use of overloaded or unseaworthy boats have further exacerbated the danger.

“These are preventable tragedies,” said a civil defense official in Taiz. “We urgently need investment in public safety, awareness campaigns, and better coordination to protect lives—especially those of women and children who are often the most at risk.”

The United Nations and international NGOs have called for greater support to improve Yemen’s disaster preparedness and community-level resilience, particularly in areas affected by displacement and poverty.

As the country continues to grapple with conflict and humanitarian crisis, the recent drownings serve as a stark reminder of the hidden toll of instability on civilian life—far from the frontlines, yet equally devastating.