**Tragic Loss Reveals Dark Underbelly of Migrant Smuggling Across Lake Turkana**

As migrants flee Eritrea's oppressive regime, their perilous journeys often end in tragedy.

As the golden hues of dusk envelop Lake Turkana, Senait Mebrehtu clutches flowers, mourning the loss of her 14-year-old daughter Hiyab, who tragically drowned while trying to escape Eritrea with her sister. In her heart-wrenching pilgrimage to the very site where her child lost her life, Senait reflects on the harrowing journey that turned fatal last year. Hiyab and her sister embarked on a treacherous trip across the lake, relying heavily on smugglers who have adapted their routes due to tightened border controls.

Senait, a devout Pentecostal Christian, fled Eritrea seeking safety three years ago. Her daughters, eager to join her in Kenya, were persuaded to undertake a dangerous crossing with traffickers. "If I had known about this treacherous lake, I would never have allowed them to embark on such a frightening journey," Senait lamented, sitting by the water.

Lake Turkana has increasingly become a hotspot for human trafficking, marking a disturbing new chapter in the migration crisis, as smugglers exploit its vastness. A smuggler operating in the area, who chose to remain anonymous, described a new “digital route” employed to evade border patrols. With a fee of around $1,500 per migrant, traffickers take advantage of families desperate to escape the oppressive regime of Eritrea, where individuals face mandatory military service and severe constraints on freedoms.

A witness to the tragedy, Osman, an Eritrean migrant, recounted the harrowing moment Hiyab's boat capsized just moments after leaving the shores. In the chaos, her sister held on for life, while seven other passengers tragically drowned due to the overload on the boat, a result of smugglers’ negligence.

Sadly, the waters of Lake Turkana have claimed many lives, as fishermen often find bodies drifting to the surface. This harrowing reality underscores the high stakes facing Eritrean migrants, many seeking refuge amid conflict in neighboring countries, further exacerbated by the political turmoil in Ethiopia and Sudan.

The UN refugee agency has documented around 345,000 Eritreans seeking asylum in the East African region, with many opting for Kenya and Uganda as their final destinations. However, experiences in transit often involve abuse, exploitation, and further danger. Migrants frequently pay thousands for a dangerous journey that offers no guarantee of safety or successful asylum.

Senait's heartache serves as a haunting testament to the human cost of an exploitative smuggling network that continues to thrive amid cries for help and a relentless pursuit of freedom. "May God heal our land and rescue families from this pain," she prayed, embodying the collective despair felt by many as they navigate life-altering decisions in search of hope. Amid the chaos, the haunting reality remains that many families find themselves ensnared in a cycle of tragedy perpetuated by those who profit from desperation.