HARTLEPOOL, UK (Hartlepool Mail) — POLICE have renewed their appeals to find a missing Ethiopian woman who vanished three months ago during an exchange programme.
Konjit Assefa, 22, was visiting Hartlepool as part of a nine-strong group of Africans when she went missing at around noon on Tuesday, August 25.
Three other Ethiopian members of the Global Exchange programme, all men in their 20s, also disappeared during a trip to London, though one later made contact and was deported.
A Cleveland Police spokesman said: “We are appealing for information regarding a missing Ethiopian woman.
“She had been living in the Headland area of the town as part of an exchange programme.
“At the time of her disappearance she is believed to have been wearing stone washed jeans with a black and grey hooded top and was carrying a small black and red rucksack.”
The Mail reported how Hartlepool Police joined forces with London’s Metropolitan Police in searching for the missing men who disappeared during a tour of the Houses of Parliament on July 15.
Zerihun Weldeyohans Alaro, 24, later contacted organisers after staying with family in London, but was deported.
Exchange visitors Habtamu Debella, 27, and Muluneh Tilahun, 21, are still missing with the UK Border Agency saying they are now as all of the group’s visas ran out on September 9.
The Global Exchange programme involves 18 volunteers, nine from the UK and nine from Ethiopia, living in Hartlepool while working for community organisations.
The team had just finished the second part of the exchange, having already spent three months in Africa.
Programme leaders told the Mail in the summer that they will seriously think about which countries they work with in the light of the disappearances.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Hartlepool Police on (01642) 302126.