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GNA Yemen: Refugee views

Global Needs Assessment, 9 October 2008

"My husband was killed in Somalia so we did not have much choice but to leave. I knew that the journey would be dangerous but we did not have much choice. If I stayed behind in Somalia with my three children, we would end up the way my husband and many of my family members ended, but if we take this journey to Yemen, we might make it to safety. I worked hard to be able to save some money for myself and my children to pay to the smugglers to take us to Yemen. We paid $70 per person.

The journey was very rough and the smugglers were ruthless and I was hit twice during the journey. But, the dramatic end came when we were disembarking from the ship as the smugglers decided that we will leave a few miles from the shore. I could not handle the three children aged 10, 6 and 3 in the sea so my youngest child drowned in front of my eyes and there was little that I could do to help him.

I still remember these moments and have difficulty breathing when I recall these difficult minutes when I saw him struggling and going up and down in the sea. My two other children are also suffering from traumatic stress because of what they went through. Now we are here in Yemen in the UNHCR reception centre and will be moved to Kharaz refugee camp but I cannot help thinking about our future. What is our tomorrow going to be like? We deserve another chance for life."

Fatima, 28, refugee from Somalia, now in Kharaz refugee camp, Aden

* * *

"We have been here for many years and it looks like we will be here for some more years to come. Some children were born in this camp and have never left it or seen what the outside world looks like. UNHCR has helped provide us with the basic needs from food to shelter to health care and helped with elementary schooling inside the camp.

The Yemenis have shared with us their country and they have limited resources, but we need a future. How long will we be here? We cannot go back to Somalia and I do not know how long we can keep on going here in Yemen. I came to Yemen 17 years ago hoping that things will get better in Somalia but it has actually gotten worse. There are limited opportunities for integration in a country overwhelmed with tens of thousands of Somalis. We have food and all the basics but we are always worried about the uncertainty of the future and the future of our children. I am the father of three children and seven grandchildren, all in refugees in Yemen."

Mohamed, 73, refugee from Somalia in Kharaz refugee camp, Aden

* * *

"We have paid $100 a head to make this trip from Bossaso to Yemen. We knew it was a dangerous journey but we had little alternative: either to die in the war in Somalia or take our chances and to try to cross [the Gulf of Aden] to the other side. I now worry about the families that we left behind. I have two boys and we are all trying to recover from this journey that took us many days. I do not even remember how many till we reached safety. I do not want to look at the sea and see its colour after all that we have been through. I lost my husband, father and brother to the war in Somalia but I am worried about the sisters, cousins and remaining families that are still in Somalia. I am just relieved that we are here. I still feel dizzy and nauseated."

Aisha, 24, refugee from Somalia in Ahwar reception centre

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