Shattered Hopes and Heavy Debts: The Reality of Irregular Migration to the Middle East

Many young people who undertake irregular migration journeys to the Middle East face severe hardship, detention, and crushing family debt instead of the prosperity promised by brokers.

When a young rural student decided to leave her home in search of a better life, financial pressure and a lack of family income drove her decision. Influenced by promises that she could work to pay off her travel costs after arriving in Saudi Arabia, she joined others traversing the desert route through Afar. Instead of an easy arrangement, smugglers demanded a substantial cash payment from her family, detaining her in harsh conditions while relatives scrambled to secure loans.

After enduring months of confinement and a grueling journey, she eventually neared her destination only to be detained by police as she approached Jeddah. Although the detention and subsequent imprisonment brought an end to her immediate journey, her return to Ethiopia through government repatriation efforts offered her a chance at rehabilitation. Through support and counseling provided by local assistance organizations, she began to rethink her future, recognizing the possibility of building a livelihood at home rather than risking another dangerous migration.

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Her experience mirrors that of many others, including a teenager who left his village at a young age following assurances of quick success abroad. After enduring the perils of the desert and sea routes, and sending a portion of his earnings home to help relieve family debts, he too was eventually detained and repatriated. Despite the severe hardships and the loss of lives witnessed along the way, some returnees still struggle with the psychological pull of returning abroad due to unresolved economic pressures and lingering family obligations.

Organizations working with returnees highlight the profound physical and psychological trauma inflicted by irregular migration. Many individuals arrive bearing the scars of violence, exploitation, and detention, often returning empty-handed while their families remain burdened by the debts incurred to finance the journey. While support centers provide medical care, psychological counseling, and vocational training to help survivors reintegrate, deep-seated economic challenges continue to drive vulnerable individuals toward perilous migration routes.

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