A year after losing her husband in the Channel disaster, Emebet demands an apology and answers from authorities
The widow of one of the 27 people who perished in the November 2021 Channel tragedy has criticized the government for its silence and lack of outreach in the year since the incident. Emebet, whose husband Fikeru died while attempting to cross the Channel, is calling on officials to acknowledge the suffering of the families affected and to issue a formal apology.
“We still haven’t heard from any authorities,” she shared, noting the absence of communication regarding her husband’s death. “No one has come to us for evidence or updates – we are left in waiting. I want them to say, ‘Nobody deserves that.’”
Emebet is especially devastated by the circumstances of her husband’s death, reflecting on his final moments. “What hurts most is imagining him calling for help, but no one came. With all their technology, they knew where he was, but they left him to die alone in the cold and the dark.”
Emebet’s family had once lived a stable life in Ethiopia, but escalating threats in November 2020 forced Fikeru to flee for safety. Now, in the wake of his tragic death, she continues to seek justice and a response from the authorities.