Amal Sahel, now 23, endured four near-death experiences before finally finding safety in the UK. His ordeal began at age 15 when a piece of unexploded ordnance killed three of his friends in his hometown in western Yemen. The metal debris, left behind by air raids, had been mistaken for a toy. Sahel was inside his house when the bomb detonated. He rushed outside to find his friends covered in blood, with one collapsing dead in front of him and another with a shell piercing his neck.
Escape from War and Conscription
Yemen's civil war erupted in September 2014, killing over 350,000 people before a ceasefire between the US and Houthi rebels last year. Sahel's city was soon surrounded by guards and flooded with weapons as the Houthis seized control. He focused on his studies, but his part-time work as a photographer and model drew the attention of Houthi soldiers. During a photoshoot in a park, armed soldiers accused him of spying for the UK and US, beat him, and demanded he join their ranks. After his release, men repeatedly visited his home to pressure him into military service. Sahel refused, knowing that children as young as 14 were being conscripted and often returned dead. In 2023, at age 21, he fled to Egypt, one of the few visa-free destinations for Yemenis.
Perilous Journey to Europe
In Egypt, Sahel faced repeated threats of deportation back to Yemen, a fate that befell many of his friends. Following advice, he attempted to cross from Turkey to Greece by boat. The smuggler forced passengers to swim ashore to avoid Greek coastguards. Sahel made it to shore but saw a man and a boy drowning. He re-entered the water to help, but the panicking boy pushed his head under, nearly drowning him. Sahel managed to get behind the boy and push him to shore. After a five-hour trek across mountains, the group reached a police station but were told to sleep on the street. Sahel spent three months in Greece, where he felt treated like a criminal. Friends told him the UK was the only country still granting asylum.
Crossing the Channel and Arrival in UK
In late 2024, Sahel traveled to Calais, France, to attempt the Channel crossing. On a cold, rainy December day, he boarded a boat but faced a violent dispute between smugglers. Gunfire erupted, and Sahel and others ran for cover, with no police response. That evening, he and about 60 others successfully crossed to the UK. Sahel described his arrival as a shock: the weather was cold, but the welcome was warm. 'I had gone a long time not seeing people smiling until I arrived in the UK,' he said. 'I felt welcome. You can find humanity and kindness here. I'm not going to be killed. I'm safe.'
Reflections on Loss and Hope
Legally able to stay and work in the UK since early 2025, Sahel reflects on his good fortune and his loss. He describes Yemen as 'heaven in the hands of the devil.' 'I really miss it, but hate the things that happened to me,' he said. 'I don't want to get shot in the street and die with no meaning. I want to be something big in the world and known as a good person.' His name has been changed to protect his identity.
