Everyday Lives of Refugees

Editor Oxford Monitor of Forced Migration, Vol 11 No. 2, January 2024

Product/Project Article Publication (Illustration + text)

What happens after those tents have been set up for years, after the boats have reached ashore and after the protests have come to an end? How do refugees, asylum seekers and forced migrants spend their time in their period of waiting? What do they do for a living? In the 365 days in a year, what does everyday life actually look like?

During a year’s stay in the south of Tunisia, working with migrants in the quiet town of Zarzis, such questions often crossed my mind. Zarzis has witnessed several sea rescues and is home to a mixed-migrant population. I began to juxtapose my life, needs and daily routines with the daily routines of those whose lives were in a constant state of limbo. What began with a curiosity to understand an overlooked population developed into a series of sketches that candidly captured conversations and interactions with locals and refugees alike. Each story helped me to piece together a pixelated image of what migrant lives look and feel like.

You can find the original article from OXMO published online here