The Perilous Journey to Saudi Arabia: A Story of Hope and Despair

Crossing deserts on foot, engaging with unscrupulous smugglers, braving the treacherous sea—these are the harsh realities faced by countless migrants attempting to reach Saudi Arabia. Their journey often entails enduring abuse from armed factions and navigating highly fortified mountain borders, which have long been the backdrop of conflict.

In 2023, a report by Human Rights Watch shed light on the egregious abuses allegedly perpetrated by Saudi border guards. The report claimed that groups of migrants have been attacked with mortar and gunfire, a stark assertion that the Saudi government has dismissed as unfounded. It raises an essential question: at what point does the pursuit of safety become an act fraught with danger?

Saudi Arabia, largely recognized as the world’s leading oil exporter, is also home to millions of foreign workers. Among them are numerous undocumented migrants striving to survive as domestic servants and laborers, diligently saving money to send back home. The vast disparity between their native lands and the wealth of the kingdom draws many into the perilous journey, despite the associated risks—whether it’s the threat of detention or repatriation in a country that has waged repeated crackdowns over the past decade.

While Ethiopians constitute the majority of those attempting the arduous route to Saudi Arabia through Yemen, significant numbers of Sudanese and Somalis also partake in this grueling trek, as reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). These migrants embark on a journey that often starts with a daunting trek across the desert from Ethiopia into Djibouti or Somalia. Payable smugglers charge around $300 for a boat ride to Yemen. Although the voyage is brief, the risks are monumental: in the previous year alone, over 500 lives were lost to drowning when boats capsized or sank.

The Danger Within Yemen

Once they enter Yemen, the situation rapidly deteriorates. Migrants leave areas controlled by the internationally recognized government and venture into regions held by the Houthis, an Iran-aligned group that seized the capital in 2014. Yemen’s civil war has accounted for over a decade of violence, oscillating between intense fighting and simmering conflict. In a landscape inundated with weapons, local and tribal authority often supersedes governmental control, adding layers of complexity—and danger—to an already perilous journey.

Stories of migrants are littered with harrowing accounts of sexual assaults, forced labor, and extortion during their traverse through Yemen. These obstacles are compounded by the ever-present threat of crossing the Saudi border—the ultimate test of endurance and resolve. This border has been a frontline in the kingdom’s ongoing military campaign against the Houthis since 2015. Early skirmishes saw frequent raids from Yemeni fighters, yet major fighting calmed following ceasefire talks in 2022. Still, the southern stretches of the border persist as vital crossing points, frequented for decades by those seeking hopes of a better future.

The geography of the border region adds to the narrative of peril. It rises sharply from the humid heat of the Red Sea coastal plain through rugged mountains dotted with scrub and into deep, reed-filled valleys, where terraced fields and ancient stone villages precariously cling to the slopes above. The lush yet dangerous landscape encapsulates the dual nature of hope and hopelessness that defines the journey.

A decade ago, during a visit to the frontier by Reuters, groups of migrants could be seen hiding in bushes, desperately attempting to bolt across a dirt path surveilled by Saudi border guards. Tragically, even then, fatalities were not uncommon. As years have rolled on, warfare has cloaked the area in uncertainty, with landmines now surfacing as a lethal threat and border guards—on heightened alert—further complicating the already treacherous undertaking.

Through the lens of their struggle, one can’t help but ponder: What drives someone to risk everything for a shot at a better life? Oftentimes, the harsh realities of poverty and conflict provide a stark backdrop against which dreams of safety and stability are painted. Many of these migrants are not merely statistics or headlines; they are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters, each with a story worth telling.

In conclusion, the perilous journeys undertaken by migrants to Saudi Arabia encapsulate the complexities of human resilience in the face of adversity. Their stories demand our attention, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the global intricacies that lead individuals to undertake such daunting paths. In navigating the choppy waters of survival, they are driven by the faint glimmer of hope that awaits them on the other side of the border.