The Hindu : Kerala News : Amnesty-seekers in UAE prefer risky sea route Gulf round-up

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Friday, Jul 20, 2007
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Amnesty-seekers in UAE prefer risky sea route Gulf round-up

Dubai: High air fares have forced several expatriate workers, including Indians, wanting to leave the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under an amnesty announced by the Government, to take the risky sea route by travelling in boats.

Crew members of ‘dhows,’ which are berthed along the Dubai and Sharjah creek, say eight to 10 labourers, mostly from India and Pakistan, come to them every day asking if they can take them to their home countries. While some labourers have offered to perform chores on board in return for home passage, others are ready to pay Dh.200 to Dh.300, the Gulf News reported. Indian carriers such as Air India and Indian have announced special fares for the amnesty-seekers. Ticket s are available at a minimum of Dh.500 (Rs.5,496). Amnesty-seekers who have got out-passes cannot sail by dhow on their own since it is illegal.

Their names will not be on the dhow’s manifest and they could be presumed missing if they cannot be traced in the UAE, the daily said.

Raju Adiyacha, who hails from Gujarat’s Kutch and works as a boatman on the Buhaira corniche in Sharjah, said: “A common question asked is how many days it takes to sail to India and Pakistan on a dhow.”

An Iranian sailor, who could speak broken Hindi, said: “I feel sad about their desperation. Who doesn’t want to save money? Taking a risk to travel illegally by sea is not an intelligent thing to do. It is impossible to sneak anyone on board as there is very strict vigilance. — PTI

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