Hamid

I was a soldier for one year in Eritrea. I was a soldier for one year in Eritrea because of the war in 2020. I became a soldier at 17 years old. They will tell you have to do it. There is no law. If you say you don’t want – they will shoot you. If you are a soldier, there is no salary. You will not be able to help your family. 

I left because of war and to help my family. There were not enough opportunities of work in my country because of the war and the dictators. No work, not enough safety. 

In the small villages, there is no electricity, and no water supply. You have to walk many kilometers to find water. In some villages, there isn’t even a clinic. Some pregnant women will die because the clinic is so far away. 

At 18 years old, I crossed from Eritrea to Ethiopia. My family didn’t know I was going to leave. I left by myself. It took me more than two weeks to walk from Eritrea to Ethiopia. If you go by road, the soldiers or police will catch you and take you to prison. I only walked at nighttime. When I heard noises of wild animals, I climbed trees to be out of reach. 

When I arrived in Ethiopia, I was there for six months. But at that time, a war started between Ethiopia and Eritrea. So I left for Sudan.  

I was captured in Sudan and sent, then sold to Libyans who said my family had to pay 6000$ for my freedom. If you say you don’t have money, they will kill you. I had no choice. I called my family. They sold their small house, and after several months, they collected enough money. Then, I was sold a second time. They requested 5000$.
After my family paid them, they threw me in the road in Tripoli. I didn’t even know where I was until I found people to help me. 

I did any work I could find. Cleaning houses, cutting hair,…
In Libya there is no safety. They enter your house with guns and steal your phone, your money. You cannot say anything under their threat.
After one year, I tried to cross the sea and the Libyan police arrested me again.
I had paid 1500$ for the failed crossing then I needed to pay 1500$ for my release.
I worked again, saved money again, tried to cross again. A total of 5 times before succeeding this time. 

I have a baby boy. We wanted to cross the sea together, with my wife and baby, but we didn’t have enough money. They crossed two months before me. They are now safe in Europe. 
I am finally on my way to join them and I hope to help my family back in Eritrea.