Senait Mebrehtu mourns the loss of her 14-year-old daughter Hiyab, who tragically drowned while trying to cross Lake Turkana with human traffickers. Amidst the backdrop of Eritrean oppression, the perilous journey of migrants seeking asylum exposes the growing risks of smuggling networks exploiting desperate families.
Heartbreaking Reality of Human Smuggling: A Mother's Grief Over Lake Turkana Tragedy
Heartbreaking Reality of Human Smuggling: A Mother's Grief Over Lake Turkana Tragedy
As tragic tales of human smuggling surface, one mother's loss poignantly highlights the dangers faced by migrants in search of a better life in Kenya.
Article Text: As the sun dipped behind Lake Turkana, a grieving mother paid tribute to her teenage daughter, Hiyab, who drowned while attempting to reach Kenya through a perilous new route employed by smugglers. Senait Mebrehtu, an Eritrean Pentecostal Christian who sought asylum in Kenya three years prior, visited the lake’s shores to confront the site of her daughter’s tragic death.
Hiyab, just 14, and her sister were part of a dangerous crossing over the expansive lake, notorious for its strong winds. "Had the smugglers warned me about the dangers, I would have never let my daughters embark on this journey," Ms. Senait told reporters, her heart heavy with sorrow.
Three years ago, Ms. Senait fled Eritrea, a nation marred by religious oppression, with her two youngest children after arriving in Kenya on a tourist visa. At the time, she could not take her older daughters, who were nearing the age of military conscription. Encouraged by family members, she reluctantly turned to smugglers to help Hiyab and her sister escape.
The journey for the girls began on foot, traveling from Eritrea through Ethiopia to the shores of Lake Turkana, the world’s largest permanent desert lake. A smuggler, speaking off the record, acknowledged that Lake Turkana has become a preferred route for illegal immigration due to heightened enforcement on land borders.
Smugglers reportedly earned upwards of $1,500 per migrant—four times Kenya’s average monthly wage. This illicit pathway, referred to as the “digital route,” has resulted in numerous tragedies. After Hiyab’s boat capsized during the crossing, an eyewitness recounted the chaos, leading to the drowning of seven migrants.
As Ms. Senait reflected on her daughter’s fate, she placed blame on the smugglers for negligence, stating they overcrowded the vessel, ignoring warnings of the lake’s treacherous conditions. Reportedly, bodies of deceased migrants have been discovered near the lake’s shores.
The UN Refugee Agency recently reported that about 345,000 Eritrean refugees reside in East Africa, with many fleeing the country’s authoritarian regime. The desire for freedom drives migration to Kenya and beyond.
Legal experts noted a significant rise in Eritreans seeking refuge in Kenya and Uganda, driven by ongoing conflict in neighboring nations. Migration networks extend to other destinations, with many individuals hoping for better opportunities in South Africa or even Europe.
During a BBC investigation, the grim realities of migrant "holding houses" were unveiled in Nairobi, where individuals endured harsh conditions after paying large sums to smugglers. In these places, starvation and exploitation became harsh realities for migrants seeking a better life.
Echoing her pain, Ms. Senait wished to warn other families about the severe risks involved in trusting traffickers, emphasizing the helplessness she felt in the face of extensive loss. "We share the struggles of every Eritrean family that has suffered," she expressed wearily.
As lamentations filled the air, Ms. Senait concluded with a glimmer of hope for her home country. "May God heal our land and deliver us from all this suffering."
Hiyab, just 14, and her sister were part of a dangerous crossing over the expansive lake, notorious for its strong winds. "Had the smugglers warned me about the dangers, I would have never let my daughters embark on this journey," Ms. Senait told reporters, her heart heavy with sorrow.
Three years ago, Ms. Senait fled Eritrea, a nation marred by religious oppression, with her two youngest children after arriving in Kenya on a tourist visa. At the time, she could not take her older daughters, who were nearing the age of military conscription. Encouraged by family members, she reluctantly turned to smugglers to help Hiyab and her sister escape.
The journey for the girls began on foot, traveling from Eritrea through Ethiopia to the shores of Lake Turkana, the world’s largest permanent desert lake. A smuggler, speaking off the record, acknowledged that Lake Turkana has become a preferred route for illegal immigration due to heightened enforcement on land borders.
Smugglers reportedly earned upwards of $1,500 per migrant—four times Kenya’s average monthly wage. This illicit pathway, referred to as the “digital route,” has resulted in numerous tragedies. After Hiyab’s boat capsized during the crossing, an eyewitness recounted the chaos, leading to the drowning of seven migrants.
As Ms. Senait reflected on her daughter’s fate, she placed blame on the smugglers for negligence, stating they overcrowded the vessel, ignoring warnings of the lake’s treacherous conditions. Reportedly, bodies of deceased migrants have been discovered near the lake’s shores.
The UN Refugee Agency recently reported that about 345,000 Eritrean refugees reside in East Africa, with many fleeing the country’s authoritarian regime. The desire for freedom drives migration to Kenya and beyond.
Legal experts noted a significant rise in Eritreans seeking refuge in Kenya and Uganda, driven by ongoing conflict in neighboring nations. Migration networks extend to other destinations, with many individuals hoping for better opportunities in South Africa or even Europe.
During a BBC investigation, the grim realities of migrant "holding houses" were unveiled in Nairobi, where individuals endured harsh conditions after paying large sums to smugglers. In these places, starvation and exploitation became harsh realities for migrants seeking a better life.
Echoing her pain, Ms. Senait wished to warn other families about the severe risks involved in trusting traffickers, emphasizing the helplessness she felt in the face of extensive loss. "We share the struggles of every Eritrean family that has suffered," she expressed wearily.
As lamentations filled the air, Ms. Senait concluded with a glimmer of hope for her home country. "May God heal our land and deliver us from all this suffering."
