Bodies of 19 Ethiopians who died last week in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) while trying to cross into South Africa returned home last Saturday, according to Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC).
A wreath laying ceremony has been conducted by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and families of the victims at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, capital of the East African country, said the report.
Tricked by traffickers, they lost their precious lives, said Ethiopian State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Taye Atske-selassie, during the wreath laying ceremony.
Trucks involved in transporting the migrants were detained by the DR Congo, according to the State Minister.
Some 88 Ethiopians, who had been jailed for months in Tanzania and Zambia while trying to enter into South Africa, have returned home recently, said the FBC report.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says it has been assisting Ethiopian migrants to return to their home country.
In addition to assisting returnees, IOM is also supporting efforts by the Government of Ethiopia to address the challenges posed by irregular migration and human trafficking, as well as their root causes through various behavioral change communication and capacity building activities.
Despite these efforts, the organization said many young Ethiopians continue to be lured abroad by the dubious promises of unscrupulous people smugglers.
In 2016 alone, IOM has helped a total of 1,657 Ethiopian migrants stranded in 10 countries to safely and voluntarily return home, said the organization in a news statement. Enditem
Source: Xinhua/NewsGhana.com.gh
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