70 Ethiopians dead after boat capsizes in Red Sea

by Engidu Woldie
ESAT News (April 16,2019)

Seventy Ethiopians were killed when their boat capsized in the red sea. The migrants were heading to Yemen and Saudi Arabia, according to a report by Deutsche Welle Amharic service.

Sixty of the dead were from one district in Tigray region, Atsbi Wenberta. At least forty of the families of the deceased have been notified of the death of their loved ones.

The Tigray region communication bureau in a statement confirmed the death and said families of forty victims have been told about the accident and the death of their family member.

A total of 407 African migrants were killed in the Mediterranean in the last three months alone since January 1, 2019, a staggering number and a steep jump compared to last year. In 2018, 560 were missing or killed in the Mediterranean sea.

The African migrants flee economic hardship and political persecution in their home countries. Many lose their lives on the high seas before they reach the coasts of Europe and Saudi Arabia.