The Refugee Abyss
Drawing on accounts from Eritrean refugees, this talk explores the refugee abyss as a condition underpinned by rupture, loss, and endurance. It reflects on how these experiences are witnessed, narrated, and often normalised in a world saturated with images of destruction.
Refugee Week: Events
Date: Wednesday 17 June 2026
Time: 14:00 - 15:00
Venue: The ARC 237A
Category: Public lectures, Sanctuary
Speaker: Hyab Yohannes
This talk, The Refugee Abyss, opens with a stark question: Does the world know we exist? Drawing on accounts from Eritrean refugees, it explores the refugee abyss as a condition underpinned by rupture, loss, and endurance. It reflects on how these experiences are witnessed, narrated, and often normalised in a world saturated with images of destruction. The talk challenges dominant understandings of forced displacement, knowledge, and belonging. It ultimately invites a rethinking of how the refugee abyss calls for new forms of attention, responsibility, and relation.