Somali woman dies at sea in tragic smuggling journey to Mayotte
Mogadishu: The family of beauty salon owner Fathi Hussein is mourning her tragic death after a failed attempt to reach the French island of Mayotte. The perilous journey ended in disaster when smugglers abandoned the migrants, leaving them adrift in the Indian Ocean for nearly two weeks.
“We were told by survivors that she died from hunger,” Fathi's stepsister, Samira, revealed in a phone interview. Fathi was among more than 70 passengers who set out on two small boats but were left stranded. Survivors recounted that while others consumed raw fish and seawater, Fathi refused. "They said she started hallucinating before she died, and her body was then thrown into the ocean," Samira explained.
The family learned of her death when fellow Somali survivors were rescued by fishermen off the coast of Madagascar. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 24 people died, while 48 survived the ordeal.
Fathi's decision to undertake the dangerous voyage puzzled her family, as she had a thriving beauty salon in Mogadishu’s middle-class Yaqshid neighborhood. She confided only in her younger sister, explaining that she used her earnings to pay the smugglers. “She used to hate the ocean. I don’t know why she made that choice. I wish I could hug her,” Samira lamented.
Fathi's journey began on November 1, when she flew to Mombasa, Kenya, before embarking on the treacherous 1,100 km boat trip. Survivors said the smugglers, claiming mechanical issues, transferred passengers to smaller boats, falsely assuring them they would reach Mayotte in three hours. Instead, they drifted for 14 days.
Some survivors believe the smugglers intentionally abandoned them after receiving payment. Frantz Celestin, a regional official with the IOM, described the growing risk migrants face attempting to reach Mayotte. "This year has been particularly deadly for migrants," he said, citing a recent tragedy where 25 others perished.
The journey to Mayotte, often seen as a gateway to Europe, has become increasingly common. Routes vary, with some migrants traveling via the Comoros Islands, while others fly to Madagascar before attempting the final sea leg. One survivor, Khadar Mohamed, recalled his own harrowing experience, escaping Somalia due to threats from the militant group al-Shabab.
Families of the victims report paying smugglers around $6,000 for the journey, half of it upfront. Despite promises of safer, larger boats, many migrants end up on small fishing vessels known as "kwassa."
Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, stated efforts are underway to contact survivors and bring them home. Meanwhile, Fathi’s family reported a suspected smuggler in Mogadishu, who was arrested but later released on bail.“I wish she could have said goodbye,” Samira said, her voice heavy with grief. “I’ll never know what she felt in those final moments, and that pain will stay with me forever.”
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
