In brief
Fathi Hussein's tragic death during a grueling 14-day voyage at sea has left her family devastated. The 26-year-old set out for Mayotte in hopes of a better future but succumbed to hunger and despair when abandoned by smugglers. Her story reflects the dangerous realities faced by countless migrants.
Fathi Hussein's family in Mogadishu is engulfed in grief following the heart-wrenching revelation of her death at sea. The beauty-salon owner, 26, embarked on a perilous journey to the French island of Mayotte, motivated by dreams of a better life, only to meet a tragic fate at the hands of unscrupulous migrant smugglers.Her stepsister, Samira, recounted to the BBC the harrowing accounts of survivors who witnessed Fathi's demise. “We heard she died of hunger," she shared. The group was left adrift in the Indian Ocean for nearly two weeks, a desperate ordeal that drove some to consume raw fish and sea water, a fate Fathi could not bring herself to accept. “They said she started hallucinating before she died,” Samira added, her voice trembling with grief. In the aftermath, Fathi's body was reportedly cast into the waves.The family learned of her tragic fate from fellow Somalis rescued by fishermen off the coast of Madagascar after the capsizing of two boats transporting over 70 migrants. Of that number, 24 lives were lost, underscoring the dangers that have come to define migrant journeys to the French island, situated approximately 300 kilometers north-west of Madagascar.Fathi had flown from Mogadishu to Mombasa on November 1, but her family, perplexed by her decision to leave a successful beauty salon business, was unaware of her plans. “She used to hate the ocean. I don’t know why and how she took that decision,” Samira lamented. Despite the risk, Fathi had confided in their younger sister about the money she’d paid to smugglers, funds earned from her business.Survivors told the family that all migrants had initially departed in a large boat. However, during their voyage, the smugglers claimed mechanical issues necessitated a false return to Kenya. Instead, they transferred the migrants to two small boats, promising a swift arrival in Mayotte—a promise that turned into a harrowing 14-day nightmare.Samira expressed suspicions that the smugglers left them stranded after receiving their payments, as reported by several survivors. Frantz Celestin of the International Migration Organization confirmed that such tragedies are increasingly frequent, with 25 deaths reported on similar journeys just recently. This year has become one of the deadliest periods for migrants attempting to reach Mayotte.Migrants often consider the island a gateway to Europe, pursuing routes that involve travel from Somalia through Mombasa via smaller boats. Some choose to fly to Ethiopia before taking boats to Madagascar and ultimately Mayotte. One survivor, Khadar Mohamed, detailed his horrifying experience that forced him to escape Somalia due to threats from the extremist group al-Shabab.While families report smugglers charging approximately $6,000 for the journey, the illegal trade remains extensive. Social media platforms continue to advertise such perilous routes under misleading pretenses, often using inadequate vessels, contrary to claims of traveling safe tourist boats.Somalia's Minister of Foreign Affairs has stated efforts are underway to connect with survivors and facilitate their return, while Fathi's family has expressed their agony over her unexpected death. Samira mourned, stating, “I wish she could talk to me and tell me about her decision. She could have said bye to me... now, I don’t know how to process her death."
