A tragic shipwreck off Yemen’s coast, claiming at least 68 Ethiopian lives with 74 others missing, has spotlighted the dire circumstances driving Ethiopia’s youth to risk perilous journeys for better opportunities. The boat, carrying 154 migrants, capsized on Sunday, leaving only 12 survivors and reigniting grief in Ethiopia, where illegal migration has become a deadly gamble.

Solomon Gebremichael, who lost a friend and brother to similar tragedies, told The Associated Press, “I understand the pain all too well.” Despite Ethiopia’s relative stability post-2022 Tigray war, over 20% youth unemployment pushes many to brave dangerous sea routes to Gulf countries or Europe. Mesel Kindeya, who survived a 2016 crossing, recounted harrowing conditions under smugglers’ control, only to face imprisonment in Saudi Arabia and deportation with little to show for her ordeal. “Illegal immigration is not a solution,” she warned.

Yemen, mired in civil war since 2014, remains a key transit point for East African migrants, with 60,000 arriving last year, down from 97,200 in 2023 due to increased patrols, per the International Organization for Migration. Yet, the risks persist, with hundreds dying in shipwrecks. Human rights lawyer Teklemichael Ab Sahlemariam highlighted the desperation fueling these journeys, noting many deportees attempt the crossing again despite extortion and abuse.

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Ethiopia’s foreign ministry urged citizens to pursue legal migration routes, condemning traffickers, while African Union spokesperson Nuur Mohamud Sheek called for action to address migration’s root causes and protect migrant rights. As Ethiopia grapples with economic challenges, the tragic loss of life underscores the urgent need for solutions to curb dangerous migrations.

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