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 said in the statement. The Afar regional government said it was doing all the necessary life saving operations on the injured migrants following the horrific accident. It cautioned Ethiopians, particularly the youth, against the dangers of human trafficking driven by false promises. The regional government added, We will ensure that the law enforcement work will continue with the concerned authorities to prevent such tragic events from repeating. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) describes the journey from the Horn of Africa - composed of Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Eritrea - to Yemen as one of the busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes. Despite the risks, more than 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone, many ultimately bound for Saudi Arabia, according to IOM.
Tragic Road Accident Claims Lives of 22 Ethiopian Migrants

Tragic Road Accident Claims Lives of 22 Ethiopian Migrants
A catastrophic road accident in Ethiopia's Afar region results in the deaths of at least 22 migrants with many others injured, raising concerns about the dangers of human trafficking and risky migration routes.
A lorry carrying approximately 85 Ethiopian migrants overturned in the Afar region, leading to the deaths of at least 22 individuals and injuring 65, with 30 in critical condition. The accident highlights the perilous nature of migration efforts in search of better opportunities, amidst worries of human trafficking and misinformation regarding safe passage.
















