Eritrea is a small country in Northern Africa, with a population of 3.65 million people. 2 Over 580,000 of its people have been forcibly displaced. 3 If the same proportion of the UK were to be displaced, there would be over 10 million UK asylum-seekers world-wide.

In search of safety in Europe, thousands of refugees are forced to make the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean sea. The journey from Asmara in Eritrea to Athens in Greece is therefore a long and treacherous one where many lose their lives.

In recognition of all those forced to flee their homes, and all those forced to live in inhumane conditions upon their arrival in Europe, SolidariTee are aiming to collectively travel 2928km, the same distance as this journey, during our 2023 Week of Action.

Volunteers from all across the world will be joining together to walk, run, or cycle part of this journey throughout the week, with every penny raised being used to fund the grants which SolidariTee has pledged to NGOs providing vital legal aid to refugees and asylum seekers in Greece.

Please email fundraising@solidaritee.org.uk with any questions or if you would like to learn more about what we do. A big thank you to both our volunteers for undertaking this challenge, and to you for supporting our vital work funding legal aid - truly, we couldn't do it without you.

Sign up here: https://airtable.com/shr2btdVZB85yFEJR

References:

https://www.fmreview.org/destination-europe/brhane

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/eritrea#b545a2

16% of Eritreas population have been forcibly displaced (580,000/3.65 million). UK population is 66.8 million according to the ONS. 16% of 66.8 million is 10.688 million.https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/articles/overviewoftheukpopulation/january2021

For more information on the situation for refugees in Eritrea and why many make the journey to Europe: - https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/27940/for-samuel-asylum-in-greece-is-not-worth-waiting-for - https://theconversation.com/why-eritrean-refugees-choose-the-risky-migration-to-europe-155751