Jamila Afelom recounted the heartbreaking moment she identified her daughter, Fatin Ben Homar Azizi’s body solely by a necklace she had given her. Fatin tragically perished trying to swim from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, as discovered by Afelom in a hospital a day and a half later.
Afelom, speaking to CBC News from Tétouan, Morocco, described Fatin as bold, determined, and possessing a boyish charm. Fatin’s passion for soccer was evident as she often skipped school to play football, leaving her schoolbag behind. Adel El Kaab, Fatin’s soccer coach, reminisced about her dedication and described her as a younger sister he dearly misses.
Despite warnings about the risks of irregular migration, many young players, including Fatin, pursued dreams of a better life in Europe. Afelom, a single mother working at a cemetery, along with her daughter Fatin, struggled to make ends meet. Fatin’s aspirations to escape poverty and provide for her family drove her to attempt the perilous journey to Ceuta.
Tragically, Fatin’s determination led to her untimely death, a grim reality faced by many migrants seeking refuge in Ceuta. The Moroccan human rights organization reported numerous deaths during the surge, with bodies remaining unidentified in morgues. Fatin’s family mourned her loss and laid her to rest where she once worked, her dreams of a brighter future left unfulfilled.
The story of Fatin’s tragic fate serves as a poignant reminder of the hardships faced by migrants seeking a better life, while highlighting the human toll of the ongoing migration crisis in Ceuta.