Desperate Journeys

Desperate Journeys is a report providing an overview of the changing patterns of movement to and through Europe, the challenges those seeking international protection face in accessing territory and asylum procedures, the risks they face along the routes, as well as developments in expanding access to safe and legal pathways.

The 2018 interim report is released in the week of the 3rd anniversary of Alan Kurdi’s death and the release of Sea Prayer written by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Khaled Hosseini (to pay tribute to Alan Kurdi and the thousands of others who died making similarly desperate journeys).

Sea Prayer is a short fictional story (with illustrations by Dan Williams) published in 30 languages. Proceeds will go to UNHCR. In June 2018 Khaled travelled to Lebanon and Italy (Sicily) with UNHCR to gather content (photos, films, writing) to support the coordinated launch of Desperate Journeys and Sea Prayer.

Desperate Journeys report:

• Desperate Journeys webpage: [link] 

Desperate Journeys press release:

• Available here: [English] [French] [Arabic]

Content related to the Desperate Journeys report:

• Photos from the report [link] and related images [link]
• B-roll package [link] 

Content related to Khaled Hosseini’s 2018 ‘Sea Prayer’ mission to Lebanon and Italy:

• Photos: [link]
• B-roll package [link]
• Footage from Khaled Hosseini's London press conference (5 September 2018) available here: [link] 
• Khaled Hosseini - Desperate Journeys film for previewing: [link]. Please contact UNHCR if you have interest in screening this at an event or pitching to media.

• Khaled Hosseini's UNHCR web page [English]

General interview requests related to Desperate Journeys should be directed to:

• Charlie Yaxley ([email protected]), Natalia Prokopchuk ([email protected]) and Scott Craig ([email protected])

Khaled Hosseini related-interview (or other related Sea Prayer requests) should be directed to:

• Coco Campbell ([email protected]; +44 7715 420076)
• Sarah Epstein ([email protected]; +44 7572 601088) 

​