KABUL (SW) – In recent years, insecurity and unemployment have been cited as the main reasons for irregular migration, but there are also some who migrate irregularly out of passion without realizing the risks attached.
These people believe that living abroad is free from problems and is always fun.
Abdullah, who is 26 years old, quietly migrated to a European country two years ago upon encouragement by his friends. Abdullah said he suddenly decided to emigrate four years ago, but his parents were opposed to the move right from beginning.
Although, he had a relatively good life in Kabul, his misguided thoughts led him to implement his decision regardless of the opposition of his parents.
Believing that he could lead a comfortable life with mental and physical security in a European country, Abdullah quit his fine job in Kabul, where he worked as a photographer for a foreign company. He said he collected some money by selling his car and the rest he borrowed from a friend.
Abdullah’s friend, who lived in Sweden, had been living there for four years and had a decent job and life there. His apparently comfortable and trouble-free life lured Abdullah to make big and bad decision about his life.
Abdullah’s friends introduced him to a human smuggler who asked him to pay all the money at the beginning of the trip.
Abdullah and his traveling companions paid all the money to the smuggler at the beginning of the trip without any guarantee.
Apart from Abdullah and his friends, there were some 30 other people traveling from Kabul to Nimroz without any problems, but the situation in that province changed dramatically.
Abdullah said there were up to 3,000 people at the place where he spent the first night. Within two days, all but them let the area.
Abdullah and his friends spent two more days in the area, but had no understanding of the smuggler and no means of communicating with him. On the third day, it was reported that the trafficker was trying to flee to Iran when he was arrested by the Iranian police on charges of drug trafficking.
According to Abdullah, the smuggler was involved in drug trafficking as well.
Abdullah has since been back in Kabul. He has lost his job and now owes about $ 30,000 worth of loan.
Meanwhile, Syed Sher Hussain Hunaryar, coordinator of the Refugee Information Center in Afghanistan, said a public awareness program has been set-up online and in person for people to prevent them from irregular migration.
But, with the spread of the corona virus, he said, their awareness teams have been unable to raise awareness in universities, schools and other institutions.
In this connection, Abdul Basit Ansari, spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations, said that more than 10,000 people had returned from Iran in the past two months alone.
Afghan officials say raising public awareness, providing jobs for Afghan youth and improving security are important in preventing irregular migration.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), about 200,000 Afghan refugees have returned from Iran, Pakistan and European countries since the beginning of this year.
ENDS
