Syrian migrants pay $11,000 to leave everything behind

This Syrian couple, Mahmood and wife, Doaa, were among the 3,000 refugees rescued crossing the Mediterranean on Saturday, May 6.

Many were Syrians fleeing the war in their homeland.

Mahmood and Doaa were lawyers living well in Syria, working and raising their child. When the fighting got too close, they decided to flee.

First they went to Sudan, and from there, Libya, hoping to migrate to Europe as refugees. In Libya, U.N. workers said it would be a year before they could leave legally.

The couple felt unsafe in Libya, which, since the overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi six years ago, has been run by gangs and armed militias.

The couple decided to risk an illegal ocean crossing. They felt that their chances were better on a rickety raft drifting in the ocean, than among the armed gangsters in Libya.

The journey, from Syria to a rescue boat in the Mediterranean, cost the couple about $11,000 (10,000 euros). In essence, they paid $11,000 to leave their lives and all their possessions behind.

This highlights exactly how desperate these refugees are. They see only death if they remain at home. They will give up everything just for a chance at life.

There is a huge number of people who simply cannot afford the price and there are people who cannot afford to escape but cannot stay either.
This couple gave up everything and lived. There are people who give up everything, and still don’t have enough.