Vanguard correspondents Christof Putzel and Kaj Larsen first ventured to
Somalia in the summer of 2006 during a brief period of fragile stability.
Shortly after they left, the US backed Ethiopian forces to invade Somalia
and drive out the ruling Islamic Court Union. The country has since plunged
back into war, sparking a surge of people to flee their homes. Forced by
violence and poverty, tens of thousands of Somalis risk their lives fleeing
Somalia by crossing the Gulf of Aden to reach Yemen. However, many never
survive the perilous journey.