Crossing the Mediterranean Sea from some part of North Africa countries, especially Libya and Morocco, in rickety boats in hopes of landing on the shores of Italy or Spain, is becoming more famous but extremely risky.  

One of these tragic journeys was the latest news on Sunday, 29 March 2008 when a ship carrying about 300 illegal migrant capsized near the Libya coast. At least 27 Gambian youths drowned in this tragedy. Alfusainy Jarju, director of African Solidarity for Action (ASFA) said losing twenty-seven youths in this mishap is a big loss to the country and especially to parents who had more than one children on that same boat. According to him, it was sad news.

He said one of the aims of ASFA is to sensitise youths to stop embarking on such illegal journeys. “Most times, the outcome of illegal migration is the loss of lives and sadness and when such incidents occur, they affect everyone,” he said. He condemned the selfish acts of ship captains and human traffickers who entice young people to make the journey. He said ASFA is not against migration but it should be done in a legal way.

Musa Camara of ASFA also encouraged parents to discourage their children from traveling by such boats. He said traveling is a syndrome in society that no one can stop, but should be done in a legal way to avoid further tragedy. “Traveling illegally is not safe. Traveling through the backway has two problems, travelers might be caught or loss their lives and even if they go through, they need documents to work and move around without encumbrances,” he said. He advised the youth to stop investing in illegal migration noting that such monies can be used as a stepping stone to any meaningful venture.

Adama Mbaye, coordinating officer of ASFA, pleaded with the youths to stay home and embark on their journeys through the right channels rather than embarking on this perilous journey. He said the youths contribute a lot to national development noting that losing them is like losing a nation’s future. He encouraged the stranded Gambians in Libya and Morocco to come back home as there is no place like home.