The community of beauty-salon proprietor Fathi Hussein are deep in mourning at their house in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, following her severe loss of life at sea later a trade in she struck with migrant smugglers to whip her to the French island of Mayotte went unsuitable.

“We were told by survivors that she died from hunger,” the 26-year-old’s stepsister Samira tells the BBC through telephone.

The community discovered from them that Fathi died in one in every of two mini boats, adrift within the Indian Ocean for approximately 14 days, later being lonely through the smugglers.

“People were eating raw fish and drinking sea water, which she refused. They [the survivors] said she started hallucinating before she died. And after that they threw her body into the ocean,” Samira tells the BBC.

Fathi’s community discovered of her loss of life from fellow Somalis who have been rescued through fishermen off the coast of Madagascar a few pace in the past.

The World Migration Group (IMO) stated that greater than 70 public had been at the two boats once they capsized, claiming the lives of 24, occasion 48 survived.

Masses of migrants are believed to die each and every yr looking to form it to the slight French island, positioned about 300km (186 miles) north-west of Madagascar.

On 1 November, Fathi flew from Mogadishu to the Kenyan coastal town of Mombasa, and a couple of days after left through boat for Mayotte – a dangerous advance of greater than 1,100 km around the Indian Ocean.

Samira says they’re baffled through Fathi’s choice as she had a a hit trade in Mogadishu, and lived within the middle-class neighbourhood of Yaqshid.

Fathi concealed her plan from the community, sharing her unrevealed best with their more youthful sister, telling her that she had paid the smugglers cash she had made operating her cosmetic salon, Samira says.

“She used to hate the ocean. I don’t know why and how she took that decision. I wish I could give her a hug,” she provides.

Survivors advised Fathi’s community that the wonder salon proprietor and all of the alternative passengers had been in a single weighty boat once they left Mombasa.

However all the way through the advance, the smugglers stated the boat had advanced mechanical issues and must flip again.

After prior to turning back Kenya, the smugglers put all of the migrants on two mini boats, assuring them: “You will reach Mayotte in three hours.”

However, says Samira, “it turned into 14 days” and resulted in the loss of life of her sister and others.

One of the survivors suspect that the smugglers intentionally left them stranded within the sea as that they had already been paid, and had incorrect goal of taking them to Mayotte, says Samira.

IMO regional reputable Frantz Celestin tells the BBC it’s more and more regular for migrants to possibility their lives making an attempt to succeed in the French island.

“Just recently 25 people perished doing the same journey, usually transiting through Comoros and Madagascar. Generally this year has been the deadliest year for migrants,” he says.

The BBC has spoken to 5 Somali migrants who’ve attempted to succeed in Mayotte.

They advised us there are two number one routes from Somalia to the island.

Some exit through boat from Mombasa by way of the Comoros islands, that are a lot nearer to Mayotte, occasion the ones with extra money fly to Ethiopia and next to Madagascar as a result of Somali passport-holders qualify for a visa on arrival.

From there, they whip a mini boat to Mayotte, hoping it’s going to distinguishable the door to gaining a French passport and get right of entry to to Europe.

One of the crucial fortunate few who has survived this perilous path is Khadar Mohamed.

He arrived in Mayotte 11 months in the past however obviously recollects the harrowing ordeal he went via to succeed in the island from Madagascar.

“When I came to Madagascar, I was taken to the boat-owner’s house. We stayed there for 14 days. We were a mix of Somali and Madagascans,” he says.

The gang of the ones ready grew to 70. They had been next placed on a ship and brought by way of a river out to the distinguishable ocean.

Khadar says he left Somalia on account of the warning posed through al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda associate combating to overthrow the federal government.

“I left my country for my safety. I was a business owner, and I couldn’t do my work because of al-Shabab,” he says.

The households of one of the sufferers say the smugglers are paid about $6,000 (£4,700) to exit from Mombasa to Mayotte, with part the cash give up entrance.

The BBC has revealed accounts on social media platform TikTok, promoting matching trips to Mayotte or even additional to alternative portions of Europe.

The advertisements declare operators can whip public to Mayotte the use of immense vacationer boats, however sufferers’ households say the smugglers are the use of a lot smaller fishing boats known as “kwassa”.

The French govt has now not commented at the fresh tragedy.

Somalia’s Minister of International Affairs, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, says that his govt is making efforts to touch the survivors and in order them again house.

Fathi’s community say they reported to the government a smuggler they believe their daughter had touch with in Mogadishu and he used to be arrested, however has since been exempt on bail.

Samira says the ache of now not realizing how her sister felt in her ultimate moments will keep along with her perpetually.

“I wish she could talk to me and tell me about her decision. She could have said bye to me… now, I don’t know how to process her death,” she says.

Supplementary reporting through Marina Daras.