At least 25 people, including women and children, died when traffickers deliberately capsized their boat off the Indian Ocean nation of Comoros, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Monday. The survivors said the boat had carried around 30 people of different nationalities, including seven women and at least six young children. "IOM Comoros is saddened to hear about the deaths of at least 25 people after their boat was deliberately capsized by traffickers off Comoros Islands, between Anjouan and Mayotte on Friday night," the statement said. Despite being France's poorest department, Mayotte has French infrastructure and welfare which makes it attractive to migrants from Comoros seeking a better life. There had been two similar tragedies in the same area in the past three months, according to the IOM statement issued by its regional office for East and Horn of Africa.

Source: Daily Nation November 05, 2024 09:01 UTC