Society Sold on a Dream, Lured by Lies
December 21, 2024
In Search of a Better Life, Ethiopians Fall Prey to Traffickers
Biniyam Desaleng, a young man from Ethiopia’s bustling capital, Addis Ababa, embarked on a journey he hoped would transform his life. Like many of his compatriots, he was drawn to Southeast Asia by the promise of lucrative employment, only to encounter a harrowing ordeal.
“I left Addis Ababa after hearing about a job opportunity abroad from family,” Biniyam said. The prospect of earning 100,000 birr (approximately $1,800) per month as a computer operator in Thailand seemed too good to pass up. He was told the journey would cost 200,000 birr, a steep price but one he believed would be worth the investment.
“They asked me to send details of my computer skills and a photo,” he explained. Assured of a better future, he made arrangements to travel. But the reality that awaited him was far from what he had imagined.
Upon arriving in Thailand, Biniyam was ensnared by human traffickers. The promised job turned out to be a ploy, leading instead to forced participation in fraudulent activities. “The day I arrived, I faced something I never expected,” he recounted.
He quickly learned the gravity of his situation from other Ethiopians who had fallen into the same trap. “They warned me about severe punishments, both physical and psychological, if I failed to carry out the fraud assigned to me,” Biniyam said.
He was eventually transported to Myanmar, where conditions worsened. Fellow Ethiopians at the hotel where he was briefly housed confirmed the brutal environment he was heading into. “They told me that the place was rife with human rights abuses,” he recalled.
Now safely back in Addis Ababa, Biniyam has returned with both scars and a message. The journey cost him 300,000 birr, including 200,000 birr for the trip and USD 500 in cash he carried. “I want to warn others not to fall into this trap,” he said, urging his fellow citizens to steer clear of destinations like Myanmar and Cambodia, notorious for human trafficking and abuse.
Biniyam’s story is far from unique. A young Ethiopian woman, who asked to remain anonymous for her safety, recounted her own harrowing experience of being trafficked to Myanmar.
“I was lured by a friend who was already working there,” she said. Her friend promised a quick process and sent her a tourist visa. Once in Myanmar, she found herself in a cycle of exploitation.
“For the first month, I was made to type texts on a computer,” she said. Then came a new contract. “It was non-cancellable, and I was forced to sign it without being given a copy.”
Her ordeal escalated into 22-hour shifts conducting fraudulent activities. She was crammed into a facility with 450 other individuals, including 50 Ethiopians. “Many were forced into sex trafficking, and refusal wasn’t an option,” she said, adding that both men and women were coerced.
Food was unsuitable, and sanitation was non-existent, she says, her voice heavy with the weight of the memories.
Experts warn that the root causes—poverty, unemployment, and misinformation—must be addressed to combat the rising tide of trafficking.
The harrowing accounts of Biniyam and the young woman, mirror the experiences of countless Ethiopians who, in pursuit of a better life, fall victim to human traffickers. Stripped of their savings and cultural dignity, they endure financial ruin, psychological scars, and, in many cases, physical abuse.
While human trafficking is not new in Ethiopia, its prevalence has surged in recent years. Social media platforms have become fertile ground for traffickers, with advertisements offering “easy, low-cost, or even free trips to Southeast Asia, including Thailand.” These deceptive campaigns, often coupled with promises of financial assistance through loans, lure hundreds of young Ethiopians into perilous journeys across deserts, seas, and dangerous migratory routes.
A Global Crisis
Human trafficking is a global scourge, fueled by factors such as unemployment, displacement, climate change, and political instability. These conditions leave vulnerable populations, especially young people, susceptible to traffickers’ enticing promises of high-paying jobs and rapid social mobility.
Historically, Ethiopian trafficking victims have been funneled toward the Middle East, with women disproportionately affected. Over the years, the routes have shifted. Once dominated by land and sea passages, traffickers now exploit air travel, using it to lend legitimacy to their schemes.
The Ethiopian government has taken steps to combat trafficking through bilateral labor agreements with Middle Eastern countries, yielding some progress. Yet traffickers have adapted, targeting new destinations like Thailand and Myanmar. The proliferation of social media advertisements suggests that the scale of the problem is increasing.
The Deceptive Promise of Air Travel
Respondents’ testimonies reveal a disturbing trend: the promise of “job opportunities” in Southeast Asia, accompanied by air travel, makes these trafficking schemes appear legitimate. Victims, lulled by the apparent normalcy of flying abroad, are often blindsided upon arrival.
“Migrants face immense emotional, physical, and social challenges, both at their destinations and upon returning home,” said Dereje Tegibe, director of Counter-Human Trafficking and Returnee Support at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Labor and Skills.
Dereje emphasized that illegal brokers are exploiting vulnerable individuals, draining their savings and leaving them stranded in foreign countries. “The Ministry is acutely aware of this issue and has been conducting public awareness campaigns to inform citizens,” he said.
Ethiopia currently lacks formal labor agreements with Thailand or European countries, leaving its citizens vulnerable to exploitation by illegal brokers. To counter this, Dereje urged Ethiopians to register with the national job placement system, which offers legal employment opportunities.
“Citizens can register using their phones or at nearby centers. Over 2,200 institutions across the country provide these services, and legal agencies are authorized to assist with job placement,” Dereje explained. He reiterated that legitimate employers typically cover travel and other expenses, unlike traffickers who demand exorbitant fees.
The Director also called for vigilance and collective action, urging the public to report fraudulent agents to law enforcement. “We must dismantle these illegal networks and bring perpetrators to justice. Protecting our citizens requires collaboration across all levels of society.”
The stories of Biniyam and others like him are a stark reminder of the devastating impact of human trafficking. Promised lucrative jobs and a path to a better future, these individuals instead find themselves exploited and abandoned.
Their testimonies underscore the urgent need for a multi-faceted response: public awareness campaigns to educate potential migrants, robust legal frameworks to punish traffickers, and international cooperation to prevent trafficking networks from thriving.