Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
In one month alone up to 10,000 migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia will pay $80 each to cross the Red Sea from Bosasso, Northern Somalia to Yemen, in small, un-seaworthy fishing boats. This dangerous and often fatal journey is becoming one of the world’s biggest migration routes. The first week of October saw 2800 people arrive in Yemen, with an estimated 62 people dead or missing. In September over 6000 made the crossing with an estimated 28 people dead.
Some who make this journey have been displaced by renewed fighting in Mogadishu since the Transitional Federal Government, (TFG) backed by the Ethiopians, seized control from the Islamic Courts (ICU) in January. Others are refugees from the Ogaden Region of Ethiopia and are fleeing persecution by the Ethiopian Government. Yet others are economic migrants, desperate for work, and a better life.
Left: Haziz, an economic migrant from Ethiopia's Ogaden region, stands next to a boat similar to the ones that he has previously taken to cross to Yemen from Bosasso, Somalia. He has made this dangerous journey five times, but each time got sent back by the Yemeni authorities.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A Somali man and women beg at the port in Bosasso, Northern Somalia, from where migrants take the boats to the Yemen.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A government soldier guards the port in Bosasso, Somalia.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A settlement for people who have been displaced in North Galkayo, Somalia. Some have been here for over 10 years, others have recently arrived as fighting in Mogadishu intensifies.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
Portrait of a woman, who had her eye shot out in fighting in Mogadishu, and who now lives in a camp in Bosasso, Somalia, while trying to make enough money to make the treacherous journey to Yemen and a new life.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
Women and their children sit outside a makeshift shelter in Bosasso, Somalia. Their husbands have already made the journey to Yemen and they are waiting for them to send enough money so they can follow.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
Almira fled Mogadishu in March of this year with her four children when fighting intensified. Her husband was killed in a shooting early last year. She comes to this large rubbish dump, next to her settlement, every morning to pick through the rubbish in search of small lumps of charcoal that she can sell in the market to buy food.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A woman in a refugee settlement in Bossaso, Somalia who comes from the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. The area has become increasingly hostile in recent months as the Ethiopian Government try to flush out supporters of the ONLF rebel movement.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A woman sits next to her son who is suffering from acute dysentery in hospital in South Galkayo, Somalia.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A baby who is suffering from intense burns after seeing a traditional healer, lies next to her mother in Galkayo Hospital, Somalia. Her mother had to carry her over 300 kms as there is no hospital where they live.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A young man in hospital in South Galkayo, Somalia who had half of his face blown away when a mortar hit his house in Mogadishu in July. His two brothers were killed in the same explosion.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A young boy lies in Bosasso hospital after being shot through the back with an AK for his mobile phone. The hospital is desperately short of drugs and this boy has had few pain killers. Indiscriminate gun violence in Bosasso is being caused by increasing tension as more refugees and IDP’s flood the town in the hope of travelling on to Yemen.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A woman and her children in a settlement for displaced people in South Galkayo, Somalia. Armed police often have to patrol, due to insecurity.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
Young men from Mogadishu and the Ogaden region of Ethiopia herd sheep at the port in Bosasso, Somalia.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A Somali businessman counts out money for a passengers fare to Yemen. Spiralling inflation in Somali has deflated the value of the Somali shilling and it is now almost worthless.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A truck loaded with people who are starting out on the long 700 km journey from Galkayo to Bosasso, Somalia from where they will take boats to Yemen.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
Kassahun was a soldier in the Ethiopian army, but fled to Bosasso, Somalia, after deserting the army two years ago. He is now trying to earn enough money to travel to Yemen.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A Somali man sits near the port in Bosasso, Somalia, looking out over some of the boats that are used to take migrants across the Red Sea to Yemen.
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Somalia, Africa's Back Door
October 2007
A young woman in a refugee settlement in Bossaso, Somalia who has come from the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. The area has become increasingly hostile in recent months as the Ethiopian Government try to flush out supporters of the ONLF rebel movement.
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