The voyage across the Ban al-Mandab, the narrow strait that separates Africa from the Arabian peninsula at the mouth of the Red Sea, takes little more than two hours in calm seas.
But for Salah al Alimi and Armani Sharabi, a married couple from Yemen’s inland capital of Sanaa who clambered aboard a tiny fishing vessel late last Thursday afternoon, that was long enough.
“It was a big swell. We both got sea sick,” Mr Alimi, a 35-year-old-artist and interior decorator, said in an interview in the tent the family now call home. Saiga, their five month old daughter, slept blissfully through her parents’ ordeal.
But at least they were safe. Days earlier, they had fled their home in Sanaa, the Yemeni…
To continue reading this article
Start a 30-day free trial for unlimited access to Premium articles
- Unlimited access to Premium articles
- Subscriber-only events and experiences
- Cancel any time
Free for 30 days
then only £2 per week
Try Premium
Save 25% with an annual subscription
Just £75 per year
Save now
Register for free and access one Premium article per week
Register
Only subscribers have unlimited access to Premium articles.Register for free to continue reading this article
RegisterOr unlock all Premium articles.
Free for 30 days, then just £1 per week
Start trial
Save 40% when you pay annually.
View all subscription options |
Already have an account? Login