AMECEA: ‘Stop the Indifference; Act Now’- A call from Justice Peace and Caritas Heads of Departments from the region
This is one of
the case studies that had been presented in the AMECEA Caritas, Justice and
Peace consultative forum by Bekele Moges – Caritas Director Ethiopia. The
study reminds us the immense work ahead of us and the need to bring about
dignity in the people of the region and especially the youth. We call upon the Justice and Peace workers
and the Caritas workers in the region to engage with national and regional
governments to bring dignity to the migrant, improve the standards in the
prisons and most importantly provide opportunities for the youth in their
countries to reduce the preying of the innocent by traffickers. This, is only
one case out of the millions of cases that have ended up wrongly. Let us
stop the indifference and act now.
the case studies that had been presented in the AMECEA Caritas, Justice and
Peace consultative forum by Bekele Moges – Caritas Director Ethiopia. The
study reminds us the immense work ahead of us and the need to bring about
dignity in the people of the region and especially the youth. We call upon the Justice and Peace workers
and the Caritas workers in the region to engage with national and regional
governments to bring dignity to the migrant, improve the standards in the
prisons and most importantly provide opportunities for the youth in their
countries to reduce the preying of the innocent by traffickers. This, is only
one case out of the millions of cases that have ended up wrongly. Let us
stop the indifference and act now.
Habtamu Petros is the
youngest son in a family of six children. He has five siblings.He was born in
1985 of Mr. Petros Sugebo and Mrs. Woltemariam Ergete who live in the Hadiya Zone at
Massena village located 24 kilometers from the Zonal Capital Hosanna Town.
youngest son in a family of six children. He has five siblings.He was born in
1985 of Mr. Petros Sugebo and Mrs. Woltemariam Ergete who live in the Hadiya Zone at
Massena village located 24 kilometers from the Zonal Capital Hosanna Town.
All the children in the family were sent to school but could not
continue with their education after completing the eighth grade save for
Habtamu. Habtamu commenced his studies with the encouragement of his father up
to completion of the University preparatory class. He did not make it to a
public university and was therefore forced to join a private university where
he paid a tuition fee of 15 USD per month. He graduated with a Diploma in Laws.
continue with their education after completing the eighth grade save for
Habtamu. Habtamu commenced his studies with the encouragement of his father up
to completion of the University preparatory class. He did not make it to a
public university and was therefore forced to join a private university where
he paid a tuition fee of 15 USD per month. He graduated with a Diploma in Laws.
Agriculture is the source of livelihood in Hadiya Zone.His family supported
him in his education through agricultural production and also marketing of
livestock such as sheep and goats. In
the region, families subdivide the land to accommodate their sons when they start
families and this was not any different from Habtamu’s family. The family had,
by the time of his graduation allocated half (0.5) hectares of land to his
elder siblings out of their total three (3) hectares.
him in his education through agricultural production and also marketing of
livestock such as sheep and goats. In
the region, families subdivide the land to accommodate their sons when they start
families and this was not any different from Habtamu’s family. The family had,
by the time of his graduation allocated half (0.5) hectares of land to his
elder siblings out of their total three (3) hectares.
Habtamu graduated from University in 2009. During this time the family
had one oxen and one cow. His graduation gave hope to the family to change
their livelihood. The family decided to sell their cow and buy graduation attire
and organize celebration for him.
had one oxen and one cow. His graduation gave hope to the family to change
their livelihood. The family decided to sell their cow and buy graduation attire
and organize celebration for him.
After graduation Habtamu failed to secure a job and could not be able to
establish self-employment since he did not have a concrete idea and no startup
capital. He eventually started getting frustrated and had a sense of guilt for
exhausting the family assets. His conversation
with family and friends painted a rosy picture of cars and big buildings and
shops in the zonal town, Hosanna, and its surrounding. Also in towns that
belonged to people who had gone to South Africa with their families. He
eventually was lured to thinking that his dream solutions lay in travelling to
South Africa. The continuous peer influence, the push factor of being jobless, unrealistic promises and
hopes and the persuasion
of the brokers of human traffickers made him reach the decision to migrate to
South Africa through the illegal means.
establish self-employment since he did not have a concrete idea and no startup
capital. He eventually started getting frustrated and had a sense of guilt for
exhausting the family assets. His conversation
with family and friends painted a rosy picture of cars and big buildings and
shops in the zonal town, Hosanna, and its surrounding. Also in towns that
belonged to people who had gone to South Africa with their families. He
eventually was lured to thinking that his dream solutions lay in travelling to
South Africa. The continuous peer influence, the push factor of being jobless, unrealistic promises and
hopes and the persuasion
of the brokers of human traffickers made him reach the decision to migrate to
South Africa through the illegal means.
He convinced the family members to send him to South Africa so that he
will work and change his
will work and change his
and their lives. The family was easily convinced since
so many youngsters had left from the neighboring districts and villages.
After getting the blessing of the family the search for money to pay to
traffickers went on for a month. The amount of money required by the broker to
bring him to Johannesburg in South Africa was roughly estimated to 3000 USD. This
would cover “consultancy” fees only and other costs such as internal travel
expenses up to the boarder of Ethiopia stand the rest would be paid by the
migrant. Two (2) months was the timeline given by the broker to arrive in
Johannesburg.
traffickers went on for a month. The amount of money required by the broker to
bring him to Johannesburg in South Africa was roughly estimated to 3000 USD. This
would cover “consultancy” fees only and other costs such as internal travel
expenses up to the boarder of Ethiopia stand the rest would be paid by the
migrant. Two (2) months was the timeline given by the broker to arrive in
Johannesburg.
With some contribution from close relatives, the selling of the only
oxen and leasing part of their farm (one hectare for 10 years), the deal with
the brokers was finalized and preparation to start the trip was completed. The
date to reach to the Ethiopia Kenyan Boarder to Moyale town (600 km away) was
fixed. The mobile contact number of the
agent in Moyale was given to Habtamu and he set off by taking a bus to Hawassa
town about 150 kilometers from Hosanna.
He took another bus from Hawassa to Moyale the next day in the evening.
He found the contact person and stayed in a hidden location in the outskirts of
the town.
oxen and leasing part of their farm (one hectare for 10 years), the deal with
the brokers was finalized and preparation to start the trip was completed. The
date to reach to the Ethiopia Kenyan Boarder to Moyale town (600 km away) was
fixed. The mobile contact number of the
agent in Moyale was given to Habtamu and he set off by taking a bus to Hawassa
town about 150 kilometers from Hosanna.
He took another bus from Hawassa to Moyale the next day in the evening.
He found the contact person and stayed in a hidden location in the outskirts of
the town.
He remembers the first reception of the brokers at Moyale was attractive
and very good. “I found about 145 youngsters in that hidden smuggling
camp”. At about 2:00 a.m., which was 5
hours after meeting the agent and staying in the camp they were told to rush to
a lorry. All of them were loaded on the truck and had to seat on each other.
They were driven to Embu in Kenya.
They reached to the first destination after 18 hours. In Embu, they were made to stay in the forest.
No food or drinks were served. From
there on they had to travel on foot
during the night and sleep during the day times. They were told to take only
the river course or depression along the valley. They were not allowed to
follow the roads. After two days they reached “Nairobi” where they were locked in a big room where most of the
travelers to South Africa stay waiting for their turn. Here they were served
with bread and water. After one day of stay in the Nairobi “confinement” camp, they
were all loaded onto a closed 40-foot container. After being driven through the
night once again they were left in a forest in a place he does not know. One
night in a bush and he was lucky to be on the first group of five to be driven
to Taveta, on the border of Kenya
and Tanzania.
and very good. “I found about 145 youngsters in that hidden smuggling
camp”. At about 2:00 a.m., which was 5
hours after meeting the agent and staying in the camp they were told to rush to
a lorry. All of them were loaded on the truck and had to seat on each other.
They were driven to Embu in Kenya.
They reached to the first destination after 18 hours. In Embu, they were made to stay in the forest.
No food or drinks were served. From
there on they had to travel on foot
during the night and sleep during the day times. They were told to take only
the river course or depression along the valley. They were not allowed to
follow the roads. After two days they reached “Nairobi” where they were locked in a big room where most of the
travelers to South Africa stay waiting for their turn. Here they were served
with bread and water. After one day of stay in the Nairobi “confinement” camp, they
were all loaded onto a closed 40-foot container. After being driven through the
night once again they were left in a forest in a place he does not know. One
night in a bush and he was lucky to be on the first group of five to be driven
to Taveta, on the border of Kenya
and Tanzania.
From there they walked to Tanzania and yet again they were taken in the
bush where no one could see them. Food was scarce and they received a piece of
bread from the guards once every 24 hours.
By now, the target date for reaching Johannesburg had passed. He started
to lose hope. His clothes were torn as they kept running through the bushes. During
this time the migrants were regrouped in smaller numbers. The group of Habtamu
was driven by a truck to a place called ‘Bagamoyo’
north of Dar es Salaam, after which they walked to the border of Tanzania with Malawi.
Walking was done strictly at night with resting being done during the day in
the bushes. It took them 20 days on foot to reach to the border. They were again
placed in an open dormitory (bush). By
now, the number of those who had died on the way was five (5). From the border
they walked to Central Malawi to a place he refers to as Mphomwwe.
bush where no one could see them. Food was scarce and they received a piece of
bread from the guards once every 24 hours.
By now, the target date for reaching Johannesburg had passed. He started
to lose hope. His clothes were torn as they kept running through the bushes. During
this time the migrants were regrouped in smaller numbers. The group of Habtamu
was driven by a truck to a place called ‘Bagamoyo’
north of Dar es Salaam, after which they walked to the border of Tanzania with Malawi.
Walking was done strictly at night with resting being done during the day in
the bushes. It took them 20 days on foot to reach to the border. They were again
placed in an open dormitory (bush). By
now, the number of those who had died on the way was five (5). From the border
they walked to Central Malawi to a place he refers to as Mphomwwe.
This is where the journey to the “promised land” for Habtamu ended. On the date he does not remember at about
11:00 a.m. the camp was raided by Malawian police. They were remanded for two weeks at the end
of which they were arraigned in court.
On the same day a verdict of six months imprisonment was given. The six
months stay in the prison was very tight. After six months they were told that
they were free but they could not go anywhere as the Malawi government could
not take them to the Ethiopian border. The Ethiopian Embassy to Malawi resides
in Nairobi and no one was able to negotiate on their behalf. Habtamu and his
fellow migrants remained in Malawian jail for two years and two months. His ordeal in prison is painful from lack of
meals common to him in Ethiopia to lack of proper sanitation facilities. He
lost his self-worth. He remembers hope in the form of assistance from the
Catholic Church in Malawi who provided soap and sugar for them in prison.
11:00 a.m. the camp was raided by Malawian police. They were remanded for two weeks at the end
of which they were arraigned in court.
On the same day a verdict of six months imprisonment was given. The six
months stay in the prison was very tight. After six months they were told that
they were free but they could not go anywhere as the Malawi government could
not take them to the Ethiopian border. The Ethiopian Embassy to Malawi resides
in Nairobi and no one was able to negotiate on their behalf. Habtamu and his
fellow migrants remained in Malawian jail for two years and two months. His ordeal in prison is painful from lack of
meals common to him in Ethiopia to lack of proper sanitation facilities. He
lost his self-worth. He remembers hope in the form of assistance from the
Catholic Church in Malawi who provided soap and sugar for them in prison.
Eventually, the Red Cross helped repatriate Habtamu and his fellow prisoners
from Ethiopia to the Kenya Ethiopian border to Moyale. Here they had to wait for family members to
come and collect them since they did not have money or decent clothes. Habtamu
managed to call his brother and informed him of his predicament. The brother
came to pick him and brought with him some clothes and also funds to travel
home. Despite the failure, the illusion and expectation of the family they
appreciated the safe return of their son.
from Ethiopia to the Kenya Ethiopian border to Moyale. Here they had to wait for family members to
come and collect them since they did not have money or decent clothes. Habtamu
managed to call his brother and informed him of his predicament. The brother
came to pick him and brought with him some clothes and also funds to travel
home. Despite the failure, the illusion and expectation of the family they
appreciated the safe return of their son.
Once Habtamu returned home he was determined to try again to reestablish
himself. This time round he wanted to
try self-employment opportunities, which he was not able to actualize before
his migration. He went to the local vocational training on welding for six
months. While being trained he worked for free in a garage to develop his
skills. After his completion of the
skill training he was employed and started working at one of the welding garage
in Hosanna town. He worked there for 3
months. He saved some money and started his own work. As he was young, of good character and
integrity he received a loan from local lenders at an interest rate of 10% in
order to buy welding and grinding machines. He bought two secondhand machines,
rented a small house and started to produce steel doors and windows. He has
hired two young assistants who like him, had attempted the South African trip.
himself. This time round he wanted to
try self-employment opportunities, which he was not able to actualize before
his migration. He went to the local vocational training on welding for six
months. While being trained he worked for free in a garage to develop his
skills. After his completion of the
skill training he was employed and started working at one of the welding garage
in Hosanna town. He worked there for 3
months. He saved some money and started his own work. As he was young, of good character and
integrity he received a loan from local lenders at an interest rate of 10% in
order to buy welding and grinding machines. He bought two secondhand machines,
rented a small house and started to produce steel doors and windows. He has
hired two young assistants who like him, had attempted the South African trip.
Habtamu regrets for the time he spent in attempting to cross to South
Africa. He said he was misled by the false promises for a better life by the
brokers. He did not know that the trip would be so grave, challenging and
dangerous. Now, he is convinced that hard work and exploitation of the minimal
opportunities at home country is better than the fantasy life expected in the
unknown country. He advises fellow youngster not to attempt the suffering he
passed through. His belief now is that “if death is the only choice better to
have it sudden and peaceful than gradual and painful”.
Africa. He said he was misled by the false promises for a better life by the
brokers. He did not know that the trip would be so grave, challenging and
dangerous. Now, he is convinced that hard work and exploitation of the minimal
opportunities at home country is better than the fantasy life expected in the
unknown country. He advises fellow youngster not to attempt the suffering he
passed through. His belief now is that “if death is the only choice better to
have it sudden and peaceful than gradual and painful”.
By Antony Mbandi; Justice, Peace and Caritas Coordinator -AMECEA
