Migrant boat sinks off Yemen coast, killing at least 39 people, U.N. immigration agency says
CBSJun 20
49 Migrants Killed After Boat Capsizes Off Yemen Coast
Image copyright: Dan Kitwood/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
At least 49 people have been killed and 140 others remain missing after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Yemen on Monday.
According to the International Organization for Migration, the boat, which departed from Somalia for Yemen on Sunday, had 260 Somali and Ethiopian citizens on board.
The Spin
Narrative A
Many migrants who choose to undertake such dangerous journeys are desperate and vulnerable people at risk of drowning as well as human trafficking at the hands of smugglers. This is a sad and tragic accident that is the result of a global migration crisis.
Narrative B
These deaths of migrants aren't accidental. Such tragedies expose a solidarity crisis in the Middle East and the EU, as there's no mechanism in place to share the responsibility for hosting migrants. It's a deliberate hands-off policy that sees innocent people drown. This perpetual cycle of neglect must end.