Story

Returnees Rebuild Their Lives Against the Backdrop of Tragedy

10 February 2021
At 18, Sheikul departed The Gambia with the aim of reaching Europe. Today, he recounts the tragic journey that claimed the lives of at least 62 Gambians.
Caption: At 18, Sheikul departed The Gambia with the aim of reaching Europe. Today, he recounts the tragic journey that claimed the lives of at least 62 Gambians.
Photo: © Alessandro Lira, IOM 2020

“For three straight days, I did not eat. I only had water, and I didn’t sleep much,” recalls Sheikul.

For a town accustomed to the daily routine of ferries and fishing, news of a shipwreck last December 2019 devastated the North Bank Region’s town of Barra. In the following weeks, the tragedy led to nationwide discussion and mourning.

Now rebuilding their lives, survivors of the tragedy are recounting their stories—while remembering and paying tribute to those who perished.

At 18, Sheikul departed The Gambia intending to reach Europe. Today, he recounts the tragic journey that claimed the lives of at least 62 Gambians.

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IOM
International Organization for Migration

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