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MAYFA'AH, YEMEN- MAY 2008 .During their short stay in transit at Mayfa'ah, the newly arrived will spend the majority of theirtime resting. Their escape from the Horn of Africa has been a long and harrowing journey andthey badly need the few days to convalesce. Comprising of small cell-like whitewashed bungalowsarranged around two squares, there is little to do in the small reception centre, located in the backstreets of a scruffy inland town.A clinic treats the sick, injured and dehydrated, while the office provides a focal point where theresidents gather, relating their experiences to staff in almost informal therapy sessions. A few situnder a sunshade doing their laundry, or venture out to see what is on sale in the local shops,otherwise life here revolves around meal and prayer times.In a few days they will be transported to the more permanent camp at Al-Kharaz where they willbe given the choice to settle, or to move on again with new refugee papers. Either way, it will finallybe the start of their new lives. (KEYSTONE/NOOR/Alixandra Fazzina)