No-one really enjoys a long airport stopover, but for one Zimbabwean family, Bangkok's main airport has been home for nearly three months.
According to the Thai immigration bureau, the four children under 11 and four adults arrived in Bangkok in May, but are refusing to return to Zimbabwe for fear of persecution.
Their plight came to light after someone who said he worked at Suvarnabhumi airport posted a photo on Facebook showing himself giving a little African girl a Christmas present.
In the now deleted post, Kanaruj Artt Pornsopit said the family had been living in the airport for nearly three months "because of the unsettled situation" in their country.
"Hope all of you back to your sweet home soon", he said.
Image copyrightEPA
Image captionAirport staff have been providing meals and assistance to the family
Immigration bureau spokesman Pol Col Cherngron Rimphadee told the BBC the family initially arrived in Thailand as tourists. They attempted to fly out of Bangkok in October to the Spanish city of Barcelona via Kiev in Ukraine.
But they were denied boarding because they did not have visas to enter Spain.
However, they were also unable to re-enter Thailand as they had overstayed their initial tourist visas by five months and had to pay a hefty fine.
They later made arrangements with Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) to fly via Kiev to Dubai instead - and then on to a third country - bypassing European immigration.
You might also be interested in:
- LA-Tokyo U-turn: How can you fly without a ticket?
- Woman stunned by $284bn electricity bill
- The students expelled for hugging
- What I learned from visiting 30 African countries
However, according to a UIA spokesperson, the family cancelled their tickets for the final leg of their journey, leading them to be sent back from Dubai to Bangkok.
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionThere was celebration in Zimbabwe when Mugabe resigned
The family have refused to be sent back to Zimbabwe, saying they feared "persecution" after the November unrest which saw the removal of 37-year leader Robert Mugabe.
However, there is currently no open instability in Zimbabwe, so some in the country have cast doubts on the family's claim of persecution.
Col Rimphahdee confirmed the family had applied to the UN for asylum, but for now were living in Suvarnabhumi airport and being looked after and fed by airport staff.
He told the BBC's Thai Service that the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, had "requested" that the family remain in Thailand as it was "working on a process... to send them to a third country".
A UNCHR spokesperson said they were "currently exploring solutions" but could not provide any further details or confirmation.
Thailand does not provide legal status to refugees and asylum seekers.
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionSuvarnabhumi is home to luxury shops, convenience stores and dozens of food outlets
The family's situation has been likened to the film The Terminal, in which actor Tom Hanks plays a man who is trapped in a New York airport.
The film is based on the real life story of Iranian Mehran Karimi Nasseri, who lived in Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris for 18 years when he found himself caught in diplomatic limbo.
But Col Rimphadee said: "Please try not to compare this to the movie. Their situation is not as dramatic... actually they have plenty of options."
"They could travel to other countries that are willing to take them... We also offered to relocate them to our holding centre where there is childcare. But they refused. They are happy to stay here."
Latest Stories
-
Africa Development Council urges ECOWAS action amid Togo’s constitutional crisis
4 hours -
Situate power sector challenges within the context of the 4th Republic – Jantuah
4 hours -
Empowering Youth through IT Education: IT For Youth Ghana College leads the way
4 hours -
Trump criminal case: Full 12-person jury seated in Manhattan
5 hours -
Israel Gaza: US again warns against Rafah offensive
5 hours -
Man arrested in Poland over alleged Russia plot to kill Zelensky
5 hours -
Over 100 arrested as US college Gaza protest cleared
5 hours -
Justmoh Construction begins work on dualization of Takoradi-Agona Nkwanta road
5 hours -
MGL visits Dumor family following passing of Mawuena Trebarh
5 hours -
In Pursuit of Peace and Unity: Interfaith Leaders Promote Dialogue – Chief Doli-Wura to Africa Union
5 hours -
TEWU raises concern over quality of food served in SHS
6 hours -
Ghanaian students gear up for Robotics World Championship
7 hours -
Political interference makes public sector managers appear incompetent – Dr Manteaw
7 hours -
Police arrest truck driver alleged to have caused train crash
7 hours -
CAF Confederation Cup: Dreams FC depart to Cairo ahead of semis first leg against Zamalek
7 hours