Sharaf

Sharaf is one of thousands of boat-refugees who have arrived to Gran Canaria from Africa in the last years. They cross the ocean in small, non-seaworthy fishing boats, called pateras and cayucos. In a way Sharaf was lucky, he survived, many people have died in the Atlantic Ocean trying to get into the EU. Sharaf describes not only his own story with unsentimental precision, he also speaks of those who died before he and his brother made their journey. A group of people from his village drowned during a similar trip just a few days before Sharaf left with a patera headed to the Canary Islands. Sharaf was aware of the risks but still he was prepared to take the chance.