Intelligence Squared Seeking Refuge in a Hostile World, with Sally Hayden
Apr 4, 2022
In this engaging discussion, Sally Hayden, an award-winning journalist and Africa Correspondent for The Irish Times, shares insights from her impactful book on the refugee crisis. She highlights the contrasting support for Ukrainian refugees compared to those from North Africa and the Middle East. Hayden illuminates the dire conditions in Libyan detention centers, the complexities of migration politics, and the emotional toll on refugees. She also addresses the responsibilities of wealthier nations in fostering empathy and support for all displaced individuals.
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Initial Reporting in Calais
- In 2015, Sally Hayden's editor tasked her with investigating David Cameron's statement about "swarms of migrants".
- She went to Calais, handed out business cards, and began building contacts with refugees, leading her to report on migration.
Detention Centers, Not Camps
- Libyan detention centers, not refugee camps, hold people indefinitely without legal recourse.
- The EU supports the Libyan Coast Guard, intercepting refugees at sea and returning them to these centers.
The Story Behind the Title
- The book's title, "My Fourth Time We Drowned," quotes a Somali refugee who endured multiple interceptions and attempts to cross the sea.
- On his fifth attempt, he reached safety, but the experience and loss of family members deeply impacted him.
