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 said that 30 of the injured are in a critical condition. The accident occurred when a lorry transporting migrants, misled by illegal brokers and unaware of the dangers of their journey, overturned, Biedo explained.
The Afar regional government reported that they are involved in all necessary life-saving operations for the injured following the "horrific" accident. They cautioned Ethiopians, particularly youth, against the dangers of human trafficking driven by false promises.
Investigations will continue to ensure enforcement against such tragedies, the regional government added.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) describes the journey from the Horn of Africa as "one of the busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes." Despite its dangers, over 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone, many ultimately headed for Saudi Arabia.
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 said that 30 of the injured are in a critical condition. The accident occurred when a lorry transporting migrants, misled by illegal brokers and unaware of the dangers of their journey, overturned, Biedo explained.
The Afar regional government reported that they are involved in all necessary life-saving operations for the injured following the "horrific" accident. They cautioned Ethiopians, particularly youth, against the dangers of human trafficking driven by false promises.
Investigations will continue to ensure enforcement against such tragedies, the regional government added.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) describes the journey from the Horn of Africa as "one of the busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes." Despite its dangers, over 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone, many ultimately headed for Saudi Arabia.
