The UN migration agency reported that at least 25 people, including women and children, died after traffickers deliberately capsized their boat off the Indian Ocean nation of Comoros. The incident occurred on Friday between the Comoros island of Anjouan and the French island of Mayotte, which is a common migration route where many lives have been lost over the years. Fishermen were able to rescue five survivors on Saturday morning, who revealed that the boat had been carrying around 30 people of various nationalities, including seven women and at least six young children. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) expressed sadness over the tragic event in a statement released on Monday.
Anjouan is one of the three islands that make up the impoverished nation of Comoros, located about 70km northwest of Mayotte, a French overseas department since 2011. Despite being the poorest department of France, Mayotte has better infrastructure and welfare services compared to Comoros. Many refugees from Comoros resort to paying smugglers for the risky sea passage to Mayotte on unstable fishing boats called “kwassa-kwassa”. Approximately half of Comoros’s population of 900,000 lives below the poverty line with limited access to healthcare, highlighting the dire circumstances that drive people to attempt these dangerous journeys.
The French Senate report mentioned in the IOM statement estimated that between 7,000 and 10,000 individuals had lost their lives while trying to cross from Comoros to Mayotte between 1995 and 2012. However, the actual number of casualties could be even higher. Migrants make up nearly half of Mayotte’s population of around 320,000, with 95 percent of them originating from Comoros based on French statistics from 2017. The Comoros archipelago, which is predominantly Muslim, was once a French colony. In 1974, Mayotte chose to remain part of France while the other islands opted for independence and formed the Republic of Comoros.
There have been two other tragic incidents in the same area within the past three months, according to the IOM statement. In September, a boat carrying 12 individuals, including two children and a pregnant woman, departed from Anjouan but never reached Mayotte. Similarly, in August, eight people, including a 12-year-old boy, lost their lives in a similar incident. The perilous journey across the Indian Ocean poses significant risks to those attempting to cross from Comoros to Mayotte, with many falling victim to human traffickers who exploit their desperation for better opportunities and living conditions on the French island.
The high number of deaths and tragedies involving migrants attempting to reach Mayotte highlights the urgent need for improved migration policies and humanitarian assistance in the region. Addressing the root causes of migration, such as poverty, lack of healthcare, and political instability in countries like Comoros, is essential to prevent further loss of lives at sea. Strengthening cooperation between nations, providing safe and legal migration channels, and combating human trafficking are crucial steps towards ensuring the safety and wellbeing of migrants seeking a better future in Mayotte and other destinations. The recent incident serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by vulnerable individuals embarking on risky journeys in search of hope and opportunity.
