Some 253 Ethiopian migrants rescued from an overloaded boat in Djibouti

Addis Ababa, December 23, 2022 (FBC) – Embassy of Ethiopia in Djibouti stated that 253 vulnerable Ethiopian migrants who were attempting to cross the sea to Yemen were safely returned back to Ethiopia after being rescued from an overcrowded boat in Djibouti.

The 253 Ethiopian migrants, including 98 women, were crammed aboard the small boat by the traffickers, endangering their lives and necessitating an immediate response and successful migrant rescue.

The lives of the Ethiopian migrants would have been at risk if the boat hadn’t been intercepted because of overcrowding, the Embassy said.

Four foreign traffickers who were directly engaged in the trafficking of these migrants were detained and will face justice, according to the Djibouti Coastal Guards.

The rescue operation shows how committed both governments are to safeguarding the rights and lives of migrants and encourages further action against the criminal practices of human traffickers.

Additionally, the Embassy commended the Djibouti Coast Guard for the successful rescue operation.