Yusuf’s story – Artwork by Filippa Edghill

‘The war is compelling us to leave the country, to leave the people who we never wish to leave in our whole lives. And we have already faced a lot of things, so cruel, so bad things.’ – Yusuf

Yusuf was 16 when he fled his village in Darfur, Sudan. Armed groups had attacked his community, killing many and destroying homes. During the attack, many in his family were assaulted and killed. Yusuf and the remaining villagers buried the dead and fled.

He escaped with his mother and sisters to a refugee camp just across the border in Chad. But the camp was unsafe. Armed groups would enter at night, shooting and kidnapping people. The guides who helped them reach the camp warned that young boys were especially at risk and advised them to leave.

Yusuf left the camp with four boys from his village. They travelled by car for several days before parting ways. A Libyan animal trader agreed to take Yusuf to Tripoli in exchange for helping to care for sheep along the journey, which took two weeks.

From here, he boarded a small boat with 11 others, heading for Italy. The journey quickly became perilous. After six days at sea, they had run out of food, water, and fuel. Surrounded by darkness and open water, Yusuf and the others prayed for rescue.

After nearly a week adrift, a coastguard vessel finally found them. After surviving this ordeal, Yusuf was taken to immigration detention in Malta.