Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a report accusing Saudi Arabian border guards of using machine guns and mortar fire against unarmed Ethiopian migrants attempting to cross into Saudi territory from war-torn Yemen. The organization asserts that these attacks have likely caused the deaths of hundreds, and possibly even thousands, of migrants in recent years.
HRW’s report draws from firsthand accounts of these incidents. It also includes unsettling images showcasing deceased bodies and burial sites along the paths taken by migrants. The United Nations also expressed concerns about the actions of Saudi Arabia’s border guards, highlighting a growing pattern of attacks along the southern border with Yemen.
A Saudi government official rebuffed the HRW report by denouncing it as “unsubstantiated and lacking reliable sources.” However, there was no evidence to counter the allegations. Yemen’s Houthi rebels, accused of profiting from migrant smuggling into Saudi Arabia, opted not to provide comments in response.
According to 2022 data from the International Organization for Migration, approximately 750,000 Ethiopians presently reside in Saudi Arabia, with up to 450,000 believed to have entered the country without proper authorization. This influx is partially attributed to the two-year civil conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. In response to escalating youth unemployment, Saudi Arabia has been collaborating with Addis Ababa to repatriate thousands of Ethiopian migrants.
HRW conducted interviews with 38 Ethiopian migrants and four relatives of individuals who attempted border crossings between March 2022 and June 2023. These witnesses testified to having observed Saudi guards shooting at migrants or launching explosives at groups.
Additionally, the HRW report scrutinized over 350 videos and photographs from social media and other sources, spanning from May 12, 2021, to July 18, 2023. Moreover, the report delved into satellite imagery encompassing several hundred square kilometers, captured between February 2022 and July 2023.
Urgent Call for Investigation and Protection
The presented evidence depicted deceased and wounded migrants, the expansion of Saudi border security infrastructure, the proliferation of burial sites near migrant encampments, and the pathways employed by migrants attempting to traverse the border.
As the global community grapples with these grave allegations, the predicament of Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia remains an urgent humanitarian issue. This underscores the immediate necessity for a comprehensive investigation and effective measures to safeguard vulnerable migrants along the border.
