Thread: Smugglers force African refugees off boat

Smugglers force African refugees off boat

39 dead

By Ahmed Al-Hajj
ASSOCIATED PRESS

11:28 a.m. September 10, 2008

SAN'A, Yemen – Smugglers threw two children overboard and forced dozens of other African refugees to swim to shore in the middle of the night, leaving more than three dozen dead, the U.N. and an aid group said Wednesday.

The bodies of 29 refugees washed ashore near Wadi al-Barakin in Yemen on Tuesday after smugglers forced them to jump into the water, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres. Most of those who died could not swim, survivors told the aid group.

About 120 passengers had boarded the boat in Somalia, survivors said. Up to 10 died during the journey: Several people were suffocated and three people, two of whom were children, were thrown overboard by the smugglers, the group said.
One unnamed survivor, a 23-year-old Somali, told the group that the boat was old and overcrowded and that the passengers did not receive food or water during the two-day journey.

“In order to intimidate us, they beat us heavily with their belts,â€

At least these people are fleeing because of vicious fighting between the factions in Somalia. That is a much better reason than those over the last few years of illegals to the US, which was primarily for economic reasons. There is a legitimate reason to flee and then there is one where the motive is nothing more than to support a comfier life.

There is a legitimate reason to flee and then there is one where the motive is nothing more than to support a comfier life.

Exactly.....some are fleeing for freedom.....not to line up for entitlements and job service.