Algeria/Desperate young Algerians try to immigrate illegally despite deadly risks

Algerian coast guards have detained 40 young people at high seas while trying to immigrate secretly since start of the current year, according to official figures issued by the Algerian Navy.

Many desperate young Algerians, aspiring to life of high standards, security and higher education, have resorted to illegal immigration across the sea to promising destinations such as Spain, Italy and other European countries, fleeing joblessness and uncertainty at home.

Bilal, a university graduate in his 30s, said in remarks to KUNA that he had made two botched bids to reach territorial waters of Spain and would make more attempts to reach “paradise,” no matter what the risks and costs may be, he said.

The young man said he and his friends had bought a boat, with each one contributing 600 US dollars, and tried to reach Spain , but the Spanish coast guards discovered it and chased them back to the Oran coast waters.

Bilal says that he is very much desperate to find a new home for he has been without work since graduating in 2002.

Samir, aged 25, narrated an identical dangerous journey across the seas targeting France and echoed similar determination to keep trying to flee home.

Defayri Suleiman, in charge of communication at the Algerian Navy, said the naval forces had foiled many such bids to immigrate, and in some cases, retrieved dead bodies of unfortunate would-be-immigrants from the sea waters.

Spain and Italy are favourite destinations by these adventurers due to their closeness to the Algerian coast.

Last year, the Algerian coast guards detained more than 1,100 people who tried to immigrate illegally.