200-plus immigrant Somalilanders perish in the Mediterranean (photos)

April 18, 2016

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Over four hundred immigrants perished in the Mediterranean on their way to Europe on Saturday, it has now been confirmed.

More than two hundred of the dead were identified as Somalilanders hailing who left the regions of Togdheer, Marodijeh and Awdal. About 80% of the dead belong to Togdheer, Social media reports circulated.

The boat carrying the immigrants left Egypt on its way to the Greek islands in search of a ‘better life’ – as is oft-times quoted to explain the seemingly senseless influx into Europe leaving behind the comfort of homes and love of parents that only learn of their children’s plights when they fall into the hands of ransom-demanding traffickers or are in need of passage fare on ‘death-boats’ attempting to cross the daunting high seas.

There is hardly a home in Burao, Togdheer, and many residential areas in Hargeisa that the deaths did not touch. One could hear the anguished wails of mothers and the pained cries of relatives in many of those homes. Somalis have extended family systems that defy clan delineations and boundaries.

Some of the reports indicate that another ship trying to ‘save’ the immigrants’ overladen boat rammed into it causing it to capsize and drown the over-wrought passengers – most of whom knew not how to swim or keep themselves afloat until help arrived.

Some of the reports even pointed an accusing finger on European policies that may have encouraged the advertent – or inadvertent – deaths of the immigrants whether it be in the circumstances they happened or in the high-handed handling of those policing the seas.

A Lucky Exception

One of the youngsters on board the death-trap boat saved his mourning family of more agony when he found a connection and posted a brief message on Facebook announcing his safety.

Abadalla Warsame Sandhool, a.k.a. Awale ‘Safiirka’, said he was safe and taken to one of the Greek islands along with 22 more Somalis and an unspecified number from other nationalities.

” I thank God that I among twenty-three Somalis saved have been taken to an island on the Greece border . I request that you – my family and friends – who have been posting condolences on my death on social media take it down,” Abadalla said.

The survivor said the boat was carrying over 500 immigrants. Among the dead were husbands and wives and single mothers with their children.

Another survivor later recounted how a boat they were being transferred to mid-sea sank under the weight without moving an inch. The survivors, he said, were either of those that were yet to go over or found on the sea not yet drowned. The traffickers, he said, cast off on dinghies leaving them all to their fate.

However the outcome of an investigation into what actually happened comes out, this incident goes down in history as the one that reaped the death of the largest number of Somalilanders. Without apprehending the culprits and serving them their just desserts in a competent court of law, this heinous parody of and disrespect to the sanctity of human lives would go unchecked, unaccounted for.

The names of some of the deceased are printed below, followed by photo shots of a number of them some of which had been taken only days before they boarded the ill-fated boat to their watery graves (God have Mercy on their souls).