Many young people in Ethiopia’s Tigray region are embarking on a treacherous journey through the coast of Djibouti to reach the Arabian Peninsula in search of economic opportunities.

Development Diaries reports that over 3,000 youths have fled a single district alone in the past four months to escape the ongoing food insecurity and in search of better opportunities, according to the region’s local administrators.

It is understood that many young people from Tigray are illegally fleeing through the Afar region and continuing their journey to the Arabian Peninsula via Djibouti.

Djibouti has served as a significant transit country for migrants and asylum seekers from the Horn of Africa, especially from Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia, who are attempting to reach the Arabian Peninsula.

The route has become increasingly hazardous, raising concerns over the safety of those who dare to embark on the journey.

The head of the Tigray Youth Affairs Bureau, Haysh Subagadis, who expressed growing concerns, said some parents are now receiving death notifications and ransom demands exceeding one million birr from smugglers in Yemen and other transit countries.

Data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) shows that in July 2023 alone, there were 21,573 recorded migratory movements in Djibouti, with an average of 719 movements per day.

Also, in April, the government of Djibouti reported that the country had become overwhelmed by an influx of migrants from neighbouring countries, with approximately 220,000 people arriving illegally in 2022.

Development Diaries calls on the Ethiopian authorities to, as a matter of urgency, introduce immediate interventions to address the growing unemployment among the country’s young population.

We also urge all humanitarian and development partners in Ethiopia to intensify their efforts to provide food and relief support to those in need.

Photo source: Rod Waddington