Personal stories

Shipwreck survivor: 'I offered the children my food but they did not make it'

A recent shipwreck in the Aegean left six people dead, among them three children. Now Doctors Without Borders has released accounts from the survivors.

Nilofar's tale: 'This is my golden time, I don't want to spend it in displacement'

Nilofar arrived in Turkey on an evacuation flight from Afghanistan. She already had a residency visa for Turkey, but when it ran out, and finding no work, she attempted to travel the Balkan Route to Europe. This is her story:

The Escape Diaries: 'I feel hurt; my education and life have been shattered'

In the second part of her story, Ghanaian medical student Dorcas Djabatey, who was studying in Ukraine before the war broke out, talks about her escape from Sumy, why she feels let down and her future.

The Escape Diaries: 'Family would also expect you to have a better life almost instantly'

It is almost automatic for your family to expect you to succeed while living abroad, says Collins Okoro, who moved to Ukraine from Nigeria to study at university. He speaks about the pressure of such family expectations.

The Escape Diaries: 'The thirst to be successful led me to Ukraine'

Nigerian student Collins Okoro came to Ukraine with the hopes that it would catapult his career but now the war has changed that. But could Berlin offer better opportunities? Here is his story.

The Escape Diaries: 'Consider family, for better or worse!'

For Nigerian student Olawale Abdulmajeed, becoming a doctor has always been his dream. Though his family wants him to succeed, he knows that it needs to be his own inspiration that drives him forward.

The Escape Diaries: 'I want to return to Ukraine'

Nigerian student Olawale Abdulmajeed fled the Ukraine when the war broke out in February 2022. While leaving the country halted his studies, it also opened his eyes for new possibilities in future. This is his story.

The Escape Diaries: 'Going to Ukraine was a life-long dream'

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Ghanaian student Dorcas Djabatey decided to wait it out. But as days turned to weeks, it became clear that she had to get out of the country, putting her dream of becoming a medical doctor in limbo. Here's her story of escape and hope.

Ayoub's story: A long and winding road to independence

InfoMigrants first spoke to Moroccan migrant Ayoub in April 2021. He had spent more than a year traveling through 13 countries to reach France. Since then, he has kept in touch with our reporter, Dany Mitzman. This is his story.

Lebanon: Syrian doctor delivers healthcare to refugees in mobile clinic

A Syrian doctor, who fled war in his homeland, has set up a mobile health clinic in Lebanon's Bekaa valley, offering free services to refugees. He is hoping to expand his services.

Pamela's story: 'I treat Italian patients but I'm still a foreigner'

Pamela Malvina Noutcho Sawa is a 30-year-old born in Cameroon who has lived in Italy since she was eight. An ER nurse and boxing champion, she lives in Bologna and is still waiting to become an Italian citizen after 22 years in Italy.

'I could already see myself dead': Serge, a Congolese migrant, recalls his crossing to the Canary Islands

Having been pushed back by the Spanish authorities to Morocco, Serge decided to try the 'Atlantic route' to Europe. But once at sea, the boat lost its motor, and Serge thought he was going to die.