A devastating truck accident in northeastern Ethiopia has resulted in substantial casualties among migrants traveling along one of Africa’s most dangerous migration corridors. Ethiopian authorities confirmed that at least 22 individuals lost their lives and 65 sustained injuries when their transport vehicle overturned near Semera in the Afar region on Tuesday morning.
Regional official Mohammed Ali Biedo disclosed that approximately 85 Ethiopian migrants were aboard the ill-fated vehicle at the time of the incident. The migrants were traversing the eastern migration route—a treacherous pathway that typically extends from Ethiopia through Djibouti, across the Red Sea to Yemen, and ultimately to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations seeking employment opportunities.
Biedo attributed the tragedy to illegal brokers who misled the travelers about the dangers of their journey. Medical teams are currently providing emergency care to the injured, with approximately 30 individuals reported to be in critical condition following what authorities described as a ‘horrific’ accident.
The Afar regional government issued a stern warning to Ethiopian citizens, particularly youth, regarding the dangers of human trafficking and false promises from smugglers. Officials pledged enhanced law enforcement cooperation with relevant authorities to prevent similar tragedies from recurring.
This incident underscores the extreme risks associated with what the International Organization for Migration (IOM) identifies as ‘one of the busiest and most perilous mixed migration routes’ globally. Despite well-documented dangers, migration statistics reveal that over 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen during 2024 alone, with most ultimately destined for Saudi Arabia’s job market.
The Horn of Africa migration corridor, comprising Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, continues to witness substantial human movement despite the life-threatening challenges including vehicle accidents, dehydration, and human rights abuses that characterize this journey.