The death of Shahida Raza, a professional hockey player for Pakistan’s women’s team, at sea on the Italian coast was sad and upsetting. Her story was one of desperation and shattered dreams.
Almost every media outlet carried the story of this strong woman, who had represented her country at the international level for several years. Besides hockey, she also played football at the national level.
Belonging to the oppressed Hazara community, Shahida Raza was among nearly 60 people who drowned near the small Italian town of Crotone on the eastern coast of Calabria in Italy.
According to her sister, Saadia, the only reason she decided to leave for Europe was her ailing three-year-old son, who had been paralyzed since birth. She wanted her son to be like normal children and therefore took him to various hospitals in Karachi, but there was no treatment. Her economic condition had been poor ever since departmental sports were banned. She had played for Wapda and later for the army but lost both jobs. She pleaded before several government and private institutions, but no one responded. Desperate, she decided to leave the country. But, like many, she also took the illegal route. She ended up in the hands of human traffickers, who charge millions with the false promise of a better future.
Very few reach their destinations but many perish. Shahida unfortunately was not among the lucky few. Her dreams shattered just a few miles from her destination. She was in her late 20s.
A few days before this tragedy, at least 73 migrants and refugees had also died following a shipwreck off the coast of Libya – Pakistanis among them.
Shahida’s sister, Saadia said people were leaving out of desperation.
“They have no choice. Our government isn’t helping its people; you can see the inflation and cost of living,” she added.
However, what makes Shahida’s story stand out is her gender. There might not be many Pakistani women who would take this arduous journey all by themselves. In our part of the world, this is not the norm.
But, many women are now turning out to be the breadwinners of the family. Desperation yes, but it also requires immense confidence to take such a decision.
A woman, who can leave behind her paralysed son and head to an unknown world uncertain of what lies ahead, must have had strong nerves.
Shahida’s story gained worldwide coverage because of her status as a professional athlete. But, many other women like her would have risked it all for a better life.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2022 World Migration Report, there were an estimated 117.6 million female migrants of working age – around 70 million of whom were migrant workers.
Many women are now migrating for employment. But, what makes their case different from men’s are the many challenges that they have to face. Among them are family separation, stress, health issues, physical harm and above all gender-based violence. But they are ready to risk it all. The reason: lack of opportunities back home, discrimination and poor living conditions.
Despite the dangers and a very low success rate, desperate men and women are willing to take the chance.
