In a bid to escape the oppressive grip of government migration checkpoints, families are increasingly taking to the fields of rural areas to make their way across international boundaries undetected.
It’s a daring tactic yet one growing increasingly popular among those desperate to reunite with family members abroad or seek asylum in a new home.
As they make their way through the long grass, the families create paths which they can use to move through, hidden from sight. These makeshift walkways, which the families call “stairways” or “slides”, are sometimes just meandering routes created by others before them.
However, despite the danger and difficulty of their journey, many families continue their attempts to skirt the increasingly stringent migration controls with determination and resilience.
In some cases, the families’ tactics have been successful, enabling them to elude risky border crossings and move to safety. Yet despite their successful passage, they still face numerous dangers that come with travelling through vast fields, jungles, rivers, and mountains over long periods of time.
Simply crossing hundreds of kilometres of fields can take days, weeks, or even months. During this trek, families must face the possibility of dehydration, exhaustion, and exposure to the elements. Raided by wildlife and programmed by landmines are also everyday threats that need to be overcome during their journeys.
Moreover, climate change has made these crossings even more treacherous as overly-warm climates can lead to decreased access to water, making the trek even longer and more taxing on the families.
Regardless of the difficulties, the families remain determined to make their way to their intended destination. Undoubtedly, they deserve much admiration for their strength and courage.