SEMERA, Ethiopia — At least 22 Ethiopian migrants have died and 65 others injured after a lorry carrying them overturned in the Afar region on Tuesday morning, officials confirmed.
Senior Afar official Mohammed Ali Biedo said about 85 migrants were travelling along the eastern migration route when the accident occurred. Thirty of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.
The Journey
Authorities said the migrants were likely heading toward Djibouti, with plans to cross the Red Sea to Yemen and onward to Saudi Arabia or other Gulf states in search of work. Yemen remains a major transit point for migrants from the Horn of Africa despite its ongoing conflict.
Official Response
Biedo described the crash as the result of migrants being “misled by illegal brokers and unaware of the dangers of their journey.” The Afar regional government said it was conducting life‑saving operations and warned young Ethiopians against the risks of human trafficking driven by false promises.
“We will ensure that law enforcement work will continue with the concerned authorities to prevent such tragic events from repeating,” the government added.
Migration Context
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) calls the Horn of Africa–Yemen corridor “one of the busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes.” Despite the dangers, more than 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024, many ultimately bound for Saudi Arabia.
Outlook
The Semera crash underscores the deadly risks faced by migrants who embark on irregular journeys through unsafe transport and treacherous routes. For Ethiopia and its neighbours, the tragedy is a reminder of the urgent need to tackle human trafficking networks and expand safe, legal pathways for migration.