An Eritrean living in Steckborn TG had traveled to Ethiopia with her two sons a few weeks ago to visit her relatives living there. But the holiday ended tragically. On the way back to the airport on March 12, a terrible accident occurs in the Ethiopian capital Addis Adeba.
Because some of the relatives want to say goodbye to the family at the airport, the group of eleven is on the road in a minibus. As the news site “Addis Standard” reports, he crashed into a stationary, defective truck on a multi-lane road. The impact is so violent that seven people are killed. Including the mother of the two boys, five and three years old, the grandmother and five other relatives.
Little brother is seriously injured
The boys are lucky and survive the crash. The five-year-old was slightly injured, while his little brother was seriously injured. However, since he is not receiving the necessary medical treatment in Ethiopia, he would have to return to Switzerland immediately. The father is already waiting there for his two children.
The problem: The family is not insured for repatriation. And money to pay for the flight is missing. In order to bring the seriously injured boy to Switzerland as quickly as possible, a woman from Steckborn launched a fundraising campaign.
The pastor knows the affected family well. They came to Switzerland as refugees seven years ago and were well integrated here, according to sources close to them. The children attended the playgroup in the church.
70,000 francs for a Rega flight to Switzerland
The aim of the campaign: to collect CHF 70,000 as quickly as possible. That’s how much a flight with Rega from Ethiopia to Switzerland costs.
Already 491 people have participated in the action. Companies and associations in the region have already donated. 66,000 francs have already been raised within a short period of time. That means: Not much is missing. Only 4000 francs and the two boys can be flown to Switzerland.
Then the father can finally fly to Ethiopia and hug his children. They will then fly back to Switzerland together. And leave the horror behind. (ced)