In an enlightening four-part series filmed in the transformational months of May and June 2024, participants divided themselves into two distinct groups—one journeyed from the troubled lands of Syria, while the other embarked from the resilient nation of Somalia.
Accompanied by vigilant security teams, they spent several arduous weeks traversing the same perilous routes that refugees from Somalia and Syria brave to reach the United Kingdom. Their journey aimed to unveil the intricate layers of the migrant experience, offering a vivid glimpse into the often harsh realities faced by refugees.
Government statistics reveal that in the year leading up to September 2024, over 5,000 Syrians ventured to apply for asylum in the UK. During the same period, 940 applications were recorded from Somali refugees. Surprisingly, small boats carried 3,385 individuals from Syria, marking them as the third most frequent nationality to arrive in the UK via this treacherous path.
A backdrop of controversy swirls around the series as it has faced criticism from the charity, Freedom From Torture, which deemed the show both “dehumanising and downright dangerous.” A spokesperson voiced concerns that the program could never fully replicate the journey’s unpredictability and danger, pointing out that real refugees traverse this road without such resources.
“Angry debates don’t get us anywhere,” observed Chloe, a participant of the series who traveled from Syria.
Chloe’s path took her back to a nation where, according to the UN, a staggering 14 million souls have been displaced since the civil unrest began in 2011. Her journey included a memorable encounter with fellow Brit, Bushra Shaikh. While Chloe found herself initially at odds with Bushra’s empathetic stance towards migrants, the experience allowed her to evaluate the crisis through her own evolving perspective.
Chloe describes the situation with a single, poignant word: “Purgatory.” Her first-hand experiences brought her face-to-face with wrenching evidence of human suffering. “We saw a lot of really heartbreaking stuff,”
she confessed, a realization that changed her previously held views.
Meanwhile, Mathilda Mallinson—a 29-year-old journalist hailing from London—traveled to Somalia. Despite her background in refugee camp reporting, she admitted she wasn’t expecting any seismic shifts in her views on immigration. However, the prolonged interaction with her fellow participants sowed seeds of understanding for differing perspectives.
Mathilda explained that engaging in heated, polarized debates rarely brings us closer to finding common ground. “A key part of the journey for me was just listening to the reasons that people feel different ways,”
she reflected. The realization dawned that genuine understanding came directly from the refugees themselves, rather than through external narratives.
Yet, both Chloe and Mathilda assert the necessity for enhanced understanding of the migrant crisis. Chloe notes: “The media’s focus often remains narrowly on the crossing from France to Britain.”
This skewed representation can mislead audiences into believing that displaced populations are solely targeting the UK, ignoring the millions scattered across other parts of the world.
During their visit to the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, Mathilda observed the immense scale of displacement happening beyond Europe’s borders—a revelation that left a lasting impression.
“It was so overwhelming to see the scale of the displacement crisis. This is what we need to see more of in our storytelling in our coverage of the refugee crisis, because it really helps to put into proportion what we are dealing with in the UK and Europe.”
Upon returning to the UK, Chloe confronted a torrent of “hateful messages” in response to the televised series. Yet, despite the negativity, her perspectives have shifted to encompass newfound empathy. Although she hasn’t completely reversed her stance, she now sees the people embroiled in these dire circumstances as human beings rather than stereotypes.
“It definitely gave me a heck of a lot more empathy for what people are going through,”
Chloe concluded, hinting at the profound transformation witnessed through this journey.
Channel 4, the broadcaster of this controversial series, has been contacted for a comment regarding the criticisms aimed at the program.
