Eritrean refugee up and running in city

A BIRMINGHAM refugee who fled one of the most secretive countries in the world is making a new life in the Midlands.

- NAOMI DESOUZA News Reporter

Keen runner Kidanemariam left Eritrea in 2015 dubbed Africa’s South Korea after serving years of military conscription, leaving his parents and siblings in search of freedom and a better life.

He made a long and risky journey to get to Birmingham, transiting through multiple European countries to reach safety in the UK.

Now the 32-year-old is forging a new life in the city, despite carrying the scars of trauma, including undergoing emergency back surgery in Belgium after falling in a camp, losing access to his running coach and standing in the athletics community in Netherlands.

Kidanemariam told his story for Refugee Week to give an insight into why he left his repressive homeland.