Ethiopians being trafficked 'under false World Cup premise'
16/03/2010
Ethiopians are being smuggled out of the country under the false pretence that there are job opportunities waiting for them in South Africa due to the upcoming football World Cup.
Victims have been conned into believing they can find work in the tournament's host country, says the government report Illegal Migration: Causes, Consequences and Solutions to Human Trafficking and Smuggling in Ethiopia, according to Irin News.
Zenebu Tadesse, state minister for labour and social affairs, said: "Human traffickers use various tricks, including the deception that South Africa has created employment opportunities."
The report stated that over 20,000 individuals are sent to different locations from Ethiopia annually and that, when added to the money made in the same manner in Somalia, the process is worth around £26 million each year.
Last month, it was reported that Susan Clarke, a woman from the US who adopted three Ethiopian children, was to return to the country to offer healthcare to those in need of medical assistance.
Written by Dan Parr
