NECWA RAHIM

Algeria- People have to migrate to different countries due to many reasons such as war, economic crisis, living conditions but everyone is not lucky in this migration journey. Hundreds of migrants drown trying to reach the countries they wanted to go to.

There has been a significant increase in immigrants

Although the Algerian authorities have recently blocked many attempts of people to flee from the country, there has been a significant increase in the number of people fleeing from the country. Not only young people but also women and girls have tried to flee from their country by the death boats. According to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), 7,040 people have tried to enter Spain illegally since January 2021 while the International Organization for Migration for Missing Migrants in Spain reported that nearly 1,000 Algerian migrants arrived in mainland Spain in three days in June. Our news agency spoke to women trying to go to Europe by death boats.

“We were nearly drowning”

Sara Ayadi is one of the Algerian women trying to go to Europe illegally. She tried to go to Europe with her five children but couldn’t because Spanish police sent them back. “I was eight months pregnant and tried to go to Europe with 11 women. We were nearly drowning when we were rescued by the Spanish Coast Guard. But then, we were sent back to Algeria.”

“I wanted my children to have a better future”

We asked Sara Ayadi why she decided to go to Europe. “I wanted my children to have a better future, to have better educational opportunities and living conditions. Especially after my relationship with my husband broke up, I chose to migrate because I lived under difficult conditions. My husband migrated to Europe illegally due to difficult living conditions in Algeria. I thought the solution was to go after him.”

“She used illegal ways when her visa application was rejected”

Lydia Bouzidi, a graduate of the English Department of the Badji Mokhtar University, is another woman who tried to go to Europe illegally. “I have faced difficulties throughout my life. I applied to the Consulate of France in Annaba to get a visa but my visa application was rejected. For that reason, I decided to use illegal ways. I collected money and sold gold bracelets of my mother to go to Europe illegally.”

Lydia Bouzidi took a boat along with 15 women and men and she managed to reach Sardinia Island. But her two friends lost their lives. “When I found myself on the island, I couldn't believe I was alive. But the boat was sunk off and several young people were happy to be alive. The last thing I remember from that day was the arrival of police.”

“I will realize my sister’s dream”

Lydia Bouzidi was lucky but her friend Zehra Ebdulmoumen wasn’t as lucky. She died when their boat capsized off the Sardinia coast. Asmaa Ebdulmoumen and her sister Zehra Ebdulmoumen decided to go to Europe illegally because they couldn’t find a job. “We decided to take a risk for a better life. I couldn’t find a job for three years. Zehra Ebdulmoumen couldn’t find a job after graduating from university. I think to go to Europe illegally again to realize my sister’s dream.”

Rahma Shiswi went to Europe illegally when her visa application had been rejected. “I worked for a Women’s Shelter in Algeria and I saw that women are subjected to violence, rape, and sexual assaults. They want to go to other countries to flee from domestic violence, to guarantee their freedom and rights. I applied for a visa to complete my study in the Department of Science Social psychology in France but my application was rejected. That’s why I decided to use illegal ways.”