• Home

The miracle that never happened for this Afghan

DUBAI — Mohammed Ghulam Rasul, 23, had waited in vain for a miracle to happen. One that would fetch him a job — a decent one. He had been earning a pittance as an illegal. Is the misery worth it, he often pondered? The answer came as early as amnesty was announced. He had to go back to his native country, Afghanistan.

Rasul had ran away from the instability and continuous fighting in his country. He was searching for a better tomorrow. He wanted to escape the misery at any cost, even if it meant sailing on a dhow to enter the UAE illegally. That was some two years ago.

“I was desperate at that time. Looking back, I cannot believe I committed such a mistake. I was working as a tailor in Deira. My clients were mostly labourers. I was barely meeting both ends meet. But the miracle (decent job) never happened,” he said stoically.

The Afghani youth added: “I regret entering the country like the way I did. I tried very hard to find a job but nobody wanted to sponsor me. It was a wrong start all along. I don’t know what I was thinking of when I sneaked into the UAE illegally.”

A tearful Rasul added: “If I had to live in poverty I’d rather do that among my loved ones and friends. The combination of living away from home and poverty is something none should experience.”

A permanent ban was stamped on his passport when Rasul went for the eye scan. But he is happy he is heading home.