IOM report estimates 50,600 Ethiopians used Eastern Route in first quarter of 2026
An estimated 50,600 people left Ethiopia via the Eastern Route in the first three months of 2026, with an IOM report warning of shifting journeys and exploitation by smugglers.
In short
- An estimated 50,600 people left Ethiopia via the Eastern Route in the first three months of 2026, with an IOM report warning of shifting journeys and exploitation by smugglers.
An estimated 50,600 people left Ethiopia through the Eastern Route during the first quarter of 2026, according to reporting based on a new International Organization for Migration report.
The report said migrants increasingly used alternative routes during the period. It also documented exploitation by smugglers, underscoring the risks faced by people travelling through irregular migration channels.
The Eastern Route is a major migration corridor linking the Horn of Africa with destinations across the Gulf. The latest estimate provides a snapshot covering January through March 2026 and points to continued movement from Ethiopia despite the dangers associated with the journey.
The available source summary did not provide a breakdown by age, gender, destination or route segment. The 50,600 figure should therefore be read as the report’s overall estimate for Ethiopians leaving through the corridor during the stated three-month period.
