April 23, 2016 – Pictures: 600 Africans Travelling To The United States Of America By Boat Stranded In Costa Rica
Over 600 Africans are now stranded after crossing the Atlantic by boat to Brazil and then passing through Colombia and Panama before getting stuck in Costa Rica enroute to the United States.
With more arriving every day – so far from seven countries on the continent – to the small border town of Paso Canoas, both the Red Cross and the government have warned it could turn into a crisis.
The whole journey took the people four months.
“It’s been bad, a lot of police in Colombia, Panama asking for money. We haven’t had money for the bus and had to walk a long way,” Youleyni, a pregnant woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who travelled with her husband, told Al Jazeera.
Wilson Camara, identified as a leader of the group, told Al Jazeera they chose the arduous route because it had become very hard to get to Europe.
“There is a problem of terrorism and the borders are closed [in Europe] and so it is difficult. We, Africans, can’t get in. America’s easier to get to and seek refuge,” Camara said.
The route to the US, though, was also closed to them since the Costa Rican government will not let them move forward.
It says it is trying to plan a strategy since most of the people have no passports or other documents.
“We will evaluate each case. It could be deportation, refugee status, temporary residence,” Mauricio Herrera, Costa Rica’s Communications Minister, told Al Jazeera.
“There are a lot of options and meanwhile we will respect their human rights in a space where they cannot leave but which is not a jail.”
The people were now sleeping rough in a makeshift camp, surviving on food handouts.
The Red Cross said it was trying to help, but was worried about what would happen if the route through Costa Rica became a new mass migration trail.
“They could be changing their route from Europe and going to America and so we could have a humanitarian crisis if we don’t manage this right,” Luis Jimenez, a Red Cross representative in Costa Rica, said.
[Al Jazeera Report]
Africans stop running from pillar to post. Stay in your country and do business
STop wasting your lives
Corruption and greed on the part of African leaders have caused this. Human life started in Africa. And so Africa by every right should have been the capital of the world.
Highest height of risk. I no pity you.
Abegi,Sharap dia Mr Steve,naija wey u dey,who e epp,OK you have accepted long suffering ad your faith in Nigeria ba,idiot.
Ppl are suffering n lookn 4a way forward,you are telling them to stay back,like say if dem dash you visa,you go lock up,stay for naija.
Ewu.
Yeye dey smell. Why are running to abroad, wasting their time, money and life. Bad as it is in Africa, people like me that have vowed to live in it are still surviving.
Go back to your various countries or locations since you cannot continue the journey to your destinations- The USA.
It is better to be a beggar in your country than to be a stranded wonderer in a strange land. Where the future looks uncertain, gloom, without promise.
As for me, I always continue my strolling…
Thanks Steve, for the most expensive advice given to my fellow Africans, God bless you.
Just imagine d risk most african’s take just 2 travel out 2 europe or united state 4 greener pasture…
i really believe dat our country z hell but we should be strong enough 2 make it out in d right way..
African countries will only develop if their leaders see corruption as a SIN before God and man.