Somalis Brave a Sea of Perils for Jobs Abroad

For individuals seeking an escape from the crushing drought, poverty and violence of Somalia, the width of the Gulf of Aden between the African coast and that of Yemen is tantalizingly narrow. The two-day journey, however, is deadly for the migrants who cram onto rickety fishing boats, waiting to be smuggled across the divide. Conservative estimates suggest that since September 2005, about 1000 people have died attempting the passage. From the journey’s start, migrants are subject to neglect and brutality: Poor Somalis join Ethiopian migrants, building temporary shack communities, while attempting to earn the fee charged by smugglers. Aid organizations warn migrants to return home, while militias, possibly paid by the US, hunt for Al Qaeda suspects. Smugglers have no qualms about forcing passengers overboard to lighten the load or shooting any who dare to stand. The Yemeni coast is a gateway for illegal jobs in the Middle East, and the hope of finding a job that could pay $50 a month is motivation enough to attempt, and re-attempt, the crossing, however many tries are necessary to succeed. – YaleGlobal