Tragedy Strikes Ethiopia as 22 Migrants Die in Accident

Tragedy in the Afar Region

At least 22 Ethiopian migrants have lost their lives, and another 65 have been injured following a truck overturning in the city of Semera, in the Afar region, according to local authorities. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning while approximately 85 migrants were traveling a route to Yemen.

Regional official Mohammed Ali Biedo stated that 30 of the injured individuals are in critical condition. "The accident occurred because the truck transporting the migrants was misled by illegal intermediaries, who were unaware of the dangers associated with their journey," Biedo explained.

The Afar regional government emphasized that they are in the process of rescuing and caring for the injured while also warning young people that human trafficking is fueled by false promises. "We will ensure that law enforcement activities continue to prevent such tragic events," the authorities added.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) describes the journey from the Horn of Africa to Yemen as "one of the busiest and most dangerous mixed migration routes." Despite the risks, over 60,000 migrants have arrived in Yemen just in 2024, many of whom are headed to Saudi Arabia.