34 illegal migrants die off the coast of Djibouti

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Monday said that some 34 migrants died off the coast of Djibouti, reported Xinhua.

"34 migrants have tragically died off the coast of Djibouti after their boat capsized," Mohammed Abdiker, IOM Regional Director for East and Horn of Africa, disclosed via Twitter.

The migrants were being transported by human smugglers, according to the IOM's regional director.

According to Abdiker, the latest incident is the second such tragedy in just over a month, as he recalled a recent similar incident that occurred last month in which some 20 migrants had died and several others were injured.

"Apprehending and prosecuting people traffickers and smugglers who exploit the vulnerabilities of migrants must become a priority. Too many lives needlessly lost," Abdiker stressed.

The latest accident is one of many similar deadly calamities that have occurred on Djibouti's Red Sea coast area.

In most cases, such incidents occur as desperate East African migrants attempt to cross the dangerous route hoping to reach the Middle East via war-torn Yemen. They are mainly aiming at reaching Yemen's northern neighbor Saudi Arabia.