This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8542761.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Migrant journey cost me my family | Migrant journey cost me my family |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| By Martin Patience BBC News, Kabul | By Martin Patience BBC News, Kabul |
| As a 15-year-old, Aman Ahmedi set off on a journey for a better future - but it was to cost him his family. | As a 15-year-old, Aman Ahmedi set off on a journey for a better future - but it was to cost him his family. |
| His parents paid for Aman and his younger brother, Qais, who was 14 at the time, to be illegally trafficked to the UK. | His parents paid for Aman and his younger brother, Qais, who was 14 at the time, to be illegally trafficked to the UK. |
| Former child immigrant to UK on why he wants to return | Former child immigrant to UK on why he wants to return |
| They travelled through central Asia in vehicles and on foot before reaching Moscow. | They travelled through central Asia in vehicles and on foot before reaching Moscow. |
| From there, they travelled through Europe, eventually making it to France. The two boys were then loaded onto shipping containers and, finally, made it to Britain. | |
| "My parents sent us because they wanted us to have a good life, a good future and to have a chance of getting a decent education," said Aman. | "My parents sent us because they wanted us to have a good life, a good future and to have a chance of getting a decent education," said Aman. |
| "That's why they spent a lot of money on sending us to the UK." | "That's why they spent a lot of money on sending us to the UK." |
| Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world, where opportunities are hard to come by, unemployment is high, and an insurgency rages in many areas. | Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world, where opportunities are hard to come by, unemployment is high, and an insurgency rages in many areas. |
| Many Afghans see Britain as place of work and plenty - a country where a better life beckons. | Many Afghans see Britain as place of work and plenty - a country where a better life beckons. |
| Trade in human cargo | Trade in human cargo |
| With the former ties of Empire and the international language of English, reaching London is an aspiration for many. | With the former ties of Empire and the international language of English, reaching London is an aspiration for many. |
| Every year, thousands of children attempt to make it to the UK. | Every year, thousands of children attempt to make it to the UK. |
| An Afghan child trafficker admits many do not make it to Europe | An Afghan child trafficker admits many do not make it to Europe |
| United Nations aid agencies are warning of a sharp increase in unaccompanied Afghan children applying for asylum across Europe. | United Nations aid agencies are warning of a sharp increase in unaccompanied Afghan children applying for asylum across Europe. |
| The trade in human cargo is a multi-million-pound industry kept hidden in the shadows. | The trade in human cargo is a multi-million-pound industry kept hidden in the shadows. |
| In a rare interview, we met one trafficker who makes journeys like Aman's possible. | In a rare interview, we met one trafficker who makes journeys like Aman's possible. |
| Yassin, who did not want to be identified, said it was a business full of hardship, danger and sometimes death. | Yassin, who did not want to be identified, said it was a business full of hardship, danger and sometimes death. |
| He told me that people are first taken into Iran and then smuggled into Turkey. From there they are trafficked to Europe. But some do not make it that far. | He told me that people are first taken into Iran and then smuggled into Turkey. From there they are trafficked to Europe. But some do not make it that far. |
| "In Turkey the police caught us and imprisoned us for a month. We were finally released and told to go back to Iran," Yassin told me. | "In Turkey the police caught us and imprisoned us for a month. We were finally released and told to go back to Iran," Yassin told me. |
| "But in the mountains, the Kurds chased us and we tried to escape. They killed many of us. | "But in the mountains, the Kurds chased us and we tried to escape. They killed many of us. |
| "Of the 45 that set out, only 15 survived." | "Of the 45 that set out, only 15 survived." |
| Football hopes | Football hopes |
| Yassin said that after witnessing what happened first-hand, he gave up his trade in trafficking. | Yassin said that after witnessing what happened first-hand, he gave up his trade in trafficking. |
| Aman was luckier. He arrived in Britain in 2001. | Aman was luckier. He arrived in Britain in 2001. |
| When my parents sent us they said they would follow but I've no idea where they are Aman | When my parents sent us they said they would follow but I've no idea where they are Aman |
| He stayed and studied in Bournemouth at a local college for four years, along with his brother. Aman played football for a local football club competing in tournaments across the country. | He stayed and studied in Bournemouth at a local college for four years, along with his brother. Aman played football for a local football club competing in tournaments across the country. |
| He started supporting Manchester United and had hoped to become a professional footballer. | He started supporting Manchester United and had hoped to become a professional footballer. |
| But Aman was deported from the UK in 2005 as an illegal immigrant. He is now 24 and lives unemployed in Kabul with distant relatives and says he is desperate to find work. | But Aman was deported from the UK in 2005 as an illegal immigrant. He is now 24 and lives unemployed in Kabul with distant relatives and says he is desperate to find work. |
| Aman believes his brother, Qais, is still in Bournemouth. | Aman believes his brother, Qais, is still in Bournemouth. |
| But as for his parents - and nine other brothers and sisters - he has not seen or heard from them in almost a decade. | But as for his parents - and nine other brothers and sisters - he has not seen or heard from them in almost a decade. |
| "I've got no idea where my family is," he said. "When my parents sent us they said they would follow but I've no idea where they are - no idea." | "I've got no idea where my family is," he said. "When my parents sent us they said they would follow but I've no idea where they are - no idea." |
| They may be in the UK, where Aman says he longs to return to. | They may be in the UK, where Aman says he longs to return to. |
| "I can't because I don't have any money. But... it would mean a new life to go back to England." He paused. "A new life." | "I can't because I don't have any money. But... it would mean a new life to go back to England." He paused. "A new life." |