I’ve been forced to flee my home and risk my life in a dinghy – it can happen to anyone

This article first appeared in the Metro on 17th August 2020. The original article can be accessed via this link: https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/17/channel-crossings-refugee-help-not-hate-13132955/

Seeing clips of tiny little inflatable boats packed with desperate people crossing the Channel over the past few days is a stark reminder of my own treacherous journey in 2015.

While I can’t assume to know what these refugees and asylum seekers have been through – no two people will have the same experience – I have also had to flee my home. In the past several days, I’ve read articles, watched debates on TV and listened to commentators on radio and social media discuss what is happening. I’ve heard people call for more support for those making the journeys, countered by others calling for crossings to be ended at any cost. What is missing, however, are the experiences of people who have been through a similar ordeal. I hope, by sharing my story, I can offer a fresh perspective.

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/17/channel-crossings-refugee-help-not-hate-13132955/?ito=cbshare

Photo Credit: Reuters – Omar Sanadiki