Grief and Tragedy: The Pain of Migrant Smugglers in East Africa

Senait Mebrehtu recounts the tragic loss of her daughter Hiyab, who drowned while attempting to cross Lake Turkana on a smuggler's boat. With the rise of dangerous and exploitative trafficking networks, the plight of Eritrean migrants fleeing oppression highlights the urgent need for change.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the tranquil waters of Lake Turkana belied the tragedy that had unfolded beneath its surface. Senait Mebrehtu knelt by the lake, overwhelmed with grief, as she scattered flowers into the shimmering water in memory of her daughter, Hiyab, who tragically drowned during an illegal crossing last year. The 14-year-old was attempting a perilous journey to Kenya alongside her sister, who managed to survive the harrowing experience thanks to a desperate grip on a sinking vessel.

Senait's path to this sanctuary in northwestern Kenya was fraught with challenges. As a Pentecostal Christian Eritrean, she had fled religious persecution and sought asylum three years prior in Nairobi, bringing her younger children but forced to leave behind her two elder daughters, who were at risk of conscription in Eritrea's militarized society. The persistent turmoil and human rights abuses in their homeland meant constant fear for their futures.

The day Hiyab and her sister set off, they were merely following the wishes of their mother, guided by relatives who suggested the involvement of smugglers to escape their circumstances. The journey from Eritrea to Kenya was meant to provide safety but ultimately led them to places fraught with danger. A smuggler operating within this new, tragic route, referred to as the "digital route," acknowledged the increasing use of Lake Turkana for illicit crossings.

As authorities ramp up patrols on established pathways, smugglers have turned to the waters of Lake Turkana, a move that raises the stakes for countless migrants. The smugglers' boats, often overcrowded and poorly equipped, offer little safety, leading to tragic outcomes such as the one that claimed Hiyab's life. According to witnesses, her boat was overloaded, capsizing under the strain and resulting in multiple fatalities, while Senait attributed this heart-wrenching loss to the unmistakable negligence of the smugglers.

The Lake's waters continue to tremble beneath the weight of desperate lives, with reports of other bodies surfacing from recent crossings. Many Eritreans seek a refuge in destinations like Kenya and Uganda, driven by the hope of escaping the grips of national service and political oppression. Yet, for many migrants, stepping into the hands of traffickers only leads to further suffering, both physically and emotionally.

The heartbreaking testimonies of those who made the crossing expose the darkness of human smuggling operations. Migrants risk everything for a chance at a new life, falling prey to exploitation and violence along the way. A female smuggler, despite her role in this treachery, expressed concern for parents entrusting their children to such dangerous arrangements, underscoring a sense of helplessness in witnessing the suffering of others.

As Senait's heart ached with the loss of her daughter, she declared her disillusionment with the greed-driven smuggling networks and grieved deeply for the countless families enduring similar tragedies. Her resolve carried an echoed plea for solidarity and hope, fervently wishing for a future where all Eritreans could live free from oppression and fear.

The ongoing plight of refugees and those willing to risk it all underscores a grim reality: amidst the perilous journeys across deserts and turbulent waters, the human cost remains immeasurable. In the words of a grieving mother, may those who seek safety find solace—not just in new lands, but also in a home free from the threat of violence.