Fazzina, A: A Million Shillings

Alixandra Fazzina followed the desperate exodus of Somalis fleeingviolence in their country, plagued by a ferocious civil war now in itsseventeenth year. In a country with the longest coast line in Africa andhemmed in by conflict, one of the only means of escape is by sea.? Capturing their voyage from both sides of the water, she hasfollowed the established smuggling routes from southern Somalia tothe migrants? subsequent fate as they arrive in Yemen and continuetheir onward journey in search of a better life.? Life in this volatile region is so cheap that people are willing to riskeverything for just $50- or one million Somali Shillings.? Risking rape, robbery, murder or drowning at the hands of themilitia and people traffickers, the refugees have just a one in twentychance of arriving on the shores of Yemen alive.? Despite the risks, tens of thousands of Somalis take their chances,rather than stare death in the face at home.Alixandra first studied Fine Art at Bristol University, then became awar artist with the Ministry of Defence. As a freelance photographershe has been working for the past seven years in Africa and theMiddle East, working closely with the UNHCR. She won the 2008 VicOdden award from the Royal Photographic Society, and was a finalistat the 2008 CARE award for humanitarian photography.