In brief
In a harrowing incident on Tuesday morning, 22 Ethiopian migrants were killed when their lorry overturned in the Afar region. Approximately 65 others sustained injuries, with 30 reported in critical condition. The migrants were reportedly misled by illegal brokers on a dangerous trek towards Yemen, a key route for those seeking work in the Middle East. Regional authorities have expressed their commitment to preventing such tragedies in the future as the humanitarian crisis persists.
At least 22 migrants have been killed and 65 others injured after a lorry they were travelling in overturned in Ethiopia's north-eastern Afar region, authorities say.
About 85 Ethiopian migrants were travelling along the eastern migration route when the lorry overturned in the town of Semera on Tuesday morning, a senior Afar official Mohammed Ali Biedo said in a statement.
Their final destination was unclear but the route typically runs from Ethiopia through Djibouti, across the Red Sea to Yemen, and onward to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.
Yemen is a major pathway for migrants from the Horn of Africa travelling to Gulf states in search of work.
Biedo mentioned that among the injured, 30 are in critical condition.
The accident occurred when a lorry transporting migrants, misled by illegal brokers and unaware of the dangers of their journey, overturned, Biedo said.
The Afar regional government has stated it is undertaking all necessary life-saving operations for the injured migrants following the horrific accident.
Authorities are urging Ethiopians, particularly the youth, to recognize the perils of human trafficking fueled by misleading promises.
The government is committed to ensuring that law enforcement continues to work with relevant authorities to prevent such tragic incidents from happening again.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) characterizes the journey from the Horn of Africa, which includes Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, to Yemen as one of the busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes. Despite the associated risks, more than 60,000 migrants made it to Yemen in 2024 alone, with many aiming for Saudi Arabia.
