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migrants often have access to the healthcare that
they need from the local authorities.
The journey to Algeria is one of the most difficult
experiences many people will go through in their
lives. They cross through the desert, sometimes for
several days, at the mercy of smugglers and risking
coming across bandits. Some die of dehydration
along the way. There have also been reports of
police taking advantage of the vulnerable migrants,
asking for bribes and inflicting other forms of
abuse. Women are at a high risk of being sexually
assaulted throughout the journey, with the attempt
to cross the border between Algeria and Morocco
near Maghnia being the most notorious area for
such circumstances. These traumatic experiences
often add up to other traumas suffered in people’s
country of origin, especially when they were fleeing
from war and persecution.
Reaching Europe ? Many head up to Algeria
with a dream to earn a better living and perhaps
managing to enter Europe. Reaching Europe has
become very difficult and many remain stuck in
Algeria or further along their journey in Morocco. A
young man I met in Tamanrasset had just returned
from Casablanca and was heading back home to
Cameroon. "Morocco is even more difficult than
Algeria for migrants. Working there is very difficult
and getting to Europe is almost impossible and very
risky." He tries to tell this to others who are still at
the beginning of their travel, but they don’t listen.
Everyone believes that their luck will be different.
They also barely listen when told that about one
person every ten who try to cross to Europe by
boat drown and die. "It will not happen to me",
says one young man who still dreams of crossing
over to Europe. "God is with me and will protect
me". Few are ready to let go of their dreams even
in the face of harsh realities faced by those who
tried the same thing before them. For others, going
back home would be a great humiliation even if
it means remaining in an exile of misery for a few
more years. "I cannot go back home yet", says one
young woman. "That would mean failure in the eyes
of my family. My brother has made it to Europe and
now has a job and a family. I want to do the same
thing."
Keeping values. Some people in desperate
situations end up getting involved in illegal activities
and losing their values. There is much exploitation
of others from their own communities. People’s
values and outlook on life can have a big impact on
the choices they make, even in the most difficult of
situations. It is important for those who are feeling
lost in life to get some spiritual guidance. I had
the chance of meeting migrants living in Algeria
who changed their ways or refused to accept to
succumb to getting involved in things which they
felt were wrong. There have also been stories of
success where people worked hard and achieved
positive things. Even in the best of cases, there are
still problems such as a lack of regular documents
and access to work contracts that will always create
obstacles, but success stories show that people do
not need to give up just because the situation is
very difficult.
Working with migrants ? Unlike Europe, it is hard
for NGOs to register and work in Algeria. For foreign
NGOs it is practically impossible to be here officially.
Working with migrants is particularly difficult since
it is illegal to provide assistance to persons without
regular documents and this is punishable by a
number of months in prison. Religious institutions
play an important role in the provision of assistance
to migrants in various parts of Algeria. It is a
struggle to keep a balance between supporting
those who have nothing and to avoid creating a
dependency where people will not seek to become
self-sufficient. At the same time, it is important to
identify those who are particularly vulnerable such
as children, abused women, victims of trafficking
and those with physical or psychological problems
and ensure that they are not abandoned to their
own fate and at the mercy of those ready to exploit
them. Working with migrants is not an easy job,
but is one of great importance since they often lack
access to the support structures that locals can rely
on.
Andrew Galea Debono
pax concordia
regArds sur l'Algérie