Page 78 - A Helping Hand for Refugees

In order to avoid being apprehended by the security forces, the
traffickers prefer to drop the migrants off in remote areas rather than
in harbors. Indeed, they sometimes throw them into the sea miles from
shore, or else sink the boats. The boats that carry the migrants often
deliver them to their deaths; many migrants drown at sea.

Reaching the Yemeni shore does not mean salvation for the

migrants. Even if they are legally admitted to Yemen, they still have
to live under very difficult conditions in the country, where unem-
ployment is very high.
Somalis generally work for very low wages doing jobs that Yemenis

are unwilling to do. A Somali migrant in Yemen earns an average of
$50 a month. In addition to the hard work they do, migrants are gen-
erally despised.

Such behavior is totally unbecoming of a Muslim. In verse 83 of
Surat al-Baqara, our infinitely merciful Lord commands us that in order
to establish social peace, the poor should not be despised, but treated
well.

76 A Helping Hand for Refugees