Immigration is becoming one of the world's biggest problem today. Migration is as old as the world, even when there were no any means of transportation, people still have freer movement, where people moved from one state to another mainly by walking or trecking. For instance, in Africa (Nigeria) according to the history of human settlement, some people emigrated from Ile-Ife to other parts, these people did not have any means of modern transportation system, they trekked from one far distance to another. However, in time past people emigrate for different reasons; some of the major reasons were war, famine or natural disasters; but today terrorism and abject poverty are some reasons of emigration. One can say, people have been moving before the creation of borders or existence of any nation.
Recently I have been thinking if they will be any solution to the issue of illegal migration, but sadly even if there were, it would not be enough to fully eradicate or reduce the number of illegal immigrants smuggled into the EU each year, it would take a long time and a lot of money and this may even affect the economy of the European nation. So, I think to tackle the problem of Immigrants; first is to end the wars in all the nations where there are constant wars and to eradicate poverty completely from the third world countries (undeveloped). But unfortunately no one can eradicate poverty completely from the face of the earth. Even in the time of Jesus there were poor people; "the poor you will always have in your midst"- Jesus said.
No one can tell what will happen to these people who constantly seek asylum and what they passed through just to be saved or to have their daily bread. I heard some of the African Immigrants go through to get to Europe in the desert. For example, the number of asylum seekers: of Nigerians who arrive in Europe, has increased in the last years, and even though the chances of being granted asylum are minimal for Nigerians, the numbers contiune to rise; many of them travel from Benin city via Togo, Niger, Libya through the desert to cross the Mediterranean to Italy by boats. Many of them died in the desert and some of them meet their end in the Mediterranean.
According to one Asylum seeker from Nigeria, she explained her experience in the desert, how they were starved for months without good food and water. Many of them died on the road as a result of starvation, some were bitten by scorpions and snakes in desert and died from the poison of these animals. And some died in the cold water of the Mediterranean from Libya; because they could not swim.
"I will never advice anyone to go through this means, it is dangerious, and it is map that leads to early grave"- said Sofia Johnson an Asylum seeker from East Africa.
There are no wars in Nigeria but people are leaving the country as a result of Hardship, Abject Poverty and Insurgency in some parts of the country. Nigeria is one of the richest countries in Africa but the government has failed to use her resources to develop the country. Personally, I can only imagine my 5 hours flight from Lagos to Frankfurt Airport each time I have travelled before I settled down in Germany. I cannot comprehend how the journey of 5 hours turns into 1095 days (3 years) in the wilderness to Europe.
Speaking, to some Asylum seekers in the Tafel where I did some Volunteer work, some of them even see me as asylum seeker, as many believe all Blacks (Africans) came to Europe by boat, I have had encounters where people questioned me of how I emigrated to Germany? Anyway, I did not come to Germany as asylum seeker. I am a legal immigrant too.
My Sweet and Bitter Experiences at the Tafel during my volunteer work; the Tafel is an organization where the refugees or Asylum seekers in Germany come to buy raw food stuffs for "1€ to 2 €", and there is also a clothing section for the two fashion seasons: Spring/Sommer and Fall/Winter. I volunteered to work with the Tafel, when I met one of the boss Barbara Böckmann who told me about the Tafel.
All the volunteers usually line up on a front roll to wait for the customers as they call each customers by their number for the day. The store is usually open Tuesday to Friday but only sell on Wednesday and Fridays the other days are for sort the products. I enjoyed working with the people, as it was quite interesting and educative. Some of the fellow volunteers were really nice and friendly, while some did not really like black people from Africa, I did not know why; but often they would ask me questions like ''Are you from America''? And when I say no, ''I am a Nigerian from Africa'', their countenance towards me changes. That was nothing for me. My godmother is a white American and she once told me, that I should look for a voluntary job, to help my community.
It gave me joy to help others but the Arab refugees made me weep so many times; I did not know why, but whenever they assigned a customer to me, they would always insist on a German (white) to serve them. I am also a German citizen but unfortunately no one recognized me as a German, they would rather see me as a poor Africa child because of the colour of my skin.
I told my husband about my experiences at the Tafel and he advised me to resign. I worked for one year and on my last day of work same thing repeat itself, on this day I summoned up courage not to cry but leave, so I told the bosses and my fellow volunteers of my resignation.
I am writing this because I have always reported about the evil and wicked acts of politicians of my country (Nigeria), and I will be falling in my duties if I did not write or report about how I was mistreated at the Tafel by some customers...
"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything"- Albert Einstein.
Germany has played a big role in the immigration crisis; Germany took over 1 million refugees and they are all living in good and better conditions; as they are given shelter, food, clothes and every other provisions including their healthcare.
Also, Non Governmental Orgarnisation (NGOs) like the Tafel played a major role in catering for the Asylum seekers or refugees in Germany.
The European and America Government, can only find a way to reduce the number of illegal immigrants because global migration has come to stay, it will remain a fact of life on earth. No government can stop Immigration, not even by building high or big or giant borders or walls.
Thanks to Barbara Böckmann, you are woman of virtue, don't change who you are, and thanks to all the real souls, my fellow volunteers at the Tafel. I love you all. Shalom!
