Thursday January 2, 2025
A weathered boat lies abandoned on a shoreline, a stark reminder of the perilous journeys undertaken by migrants seeking a better life across treacherous waters.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali migrants seeking a better life often face harrowing journeys across treacherous waters. For Said Muse Yalahow and his companions, the dream of reaching Spain turned into a nightmare as they drifted at sea for seven days, enduring loss, hunger, and despair.
Said was one of 60 migrants aboard a small boat that departed Mauritania under the cover of darkness. Their journey began with heartbreak when a young woman from their group was left behind, captured by security forces during a frantic chase.
“She couldn’t keep up when the military came after us. We had to leave her behind,” Said recalled.
Their plan to reach Spain within three days fell apart when the boat’s GPS failed, leaving them lost in open waters. As hope dwindled, they turned to passing ships for help, but their cries went unanswered.
“Every ship we signalled for help sped away. We were left to fend for ourselves,” Said said.
By the fourth day, the physical and emotional toll was evident. Abdulqadir, a young man on the boat, succumbed to the cold, hunger, and thirst. His death marked the beginning of a series of tragedies that tested the survivors’ resilience.
“Abdulqadir couldn’t survive. May God have mercy on him,” Said recounted.
Two others fell into severe psychological distress, their behaviour becoming erratic. Amid the chaos, the group faced the grim task of disposing of bodies to make room on the overcrowded boat.
On the seventh day, the boat drifted back into Moroccan waters, where the survivors encountered fishing vessels. By then, another passenger, Maslax, had passed away. Moroccan authorities eventually rescued the remaining passengers, but not all survived the subsequent hospital stay.
From the original group of 60 migrants, only six remain. Said and his companions are now housed in a camp in Rabat, recovering from the ordeal.
The plight of these migrants highlights the dangers of irregular migration. Somalia’s ambassador to Morocco, Salad Ali Catosh, urged citizens to reconsider such perilous journeys.
“Migration is fraught with danger. We encourage our citizens to seek opportunities within Somalia,” the ambassador said. He stressed the embassy’s ongoing efforts to repatriate those stranded abroad.
- With files from the BBC Somali Service