Lampedusa Spring

'Hill of Shame'

The lack of infrastructure to receive the Tunisian immigrants - following the January 2011 ousting of Ben Ali - resulted in a disastrous emergency campground which was set up by the migrants themselves on a cliff overlooking the seaport. Islanders dubbed it the "hill of shame".

Lampedusa Spring

Indefinite quest

Hundreds of men were crammed on small fishing boats usually at night time to avoid being spotted by the Tunisian coast guard. Most boats were bought off desperate fishermen or stolen when denied by the resilient few. The price for this "indefinite quest" ranged between 1500 and 2000 euros.

Lampedusa Spring

Endless stopover

In the eyes of the migrants, Lampedusa meant Italy and Italy the threshold to Europe. But landing on the island's rocky shores - nearly 200 km from Sicily - came as a bitter disappointment. Disputes between Italy and the EU ended up in a paralysis of standard asylum policy, and this meant that the adventure for most of the migrants was just beginning - with an inordinately long wait.

Lampedusa Spring

Dreamless nights

By late March 2011, migrants outnumbered the residents on Lampedusa. Though frustrated and angry, the hospitality of the islanders prevailed as they provided the migrants with blankets and food. This was vital, considering that thousands of migrants didn't even have beds during the weeks of emergency.

Lampedusa Spring

Tragedy within a tragedy

As the crisis heightened the political game between Italy, Europe and Tunisia was turning into an endless saga. Migrants felt trapped in an open-air cage, without answers as to why they were being held days on end with little food and no shelter. At the same time, with high season approaching on the tourism-dependent island, hotel and restaurant owners were reporting booking cancellations.

Lampedusa Spring

Over their heads

In early April, the interior ministers of Italy and Tunisia reached a deal to end the migration of Tunisians to Lampedusa. Italy gained the right to forcibly repatriate a number of the illegal migrants, which meant that the young men who had paid a high price and risked their lives to flee Tunisia would be flown back.

Lampedusa Spring

Lost souls

The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia in early 2011 is often referred to as the spark that triggered the popular uprisings known as the Arab Spring. Well over 60,000 people back then faced uncertainty and oftentimes death along the Mediterranean route towards Europe through Lampedusa. To this day, thousands are still departing from the coasts of Libya and Tunisia.

Lampedusa Spring

Moving out

At the end of March 2011, the first Italian navy ship was sent to Lampedusa to finally begin the transfer of thousands of stranded Tunisians. They were sent to centers around Italy and given short-term migrant passports, which infuriated the French and German governments. Migrants who could not prove they had family abroad or the means to support themselves were flown back to Tunisia.

Lampedusa Spring

Dark side of the Arab Spring

After the initial influx of migrants, word soon spread that Italian and Tunisian coastal guard fleets would block traffic towards Lampedusa. But soon after the Libyan revolution in February 2011, Lampedusa saw no end to the flow of migrants and refugees. Of the 60,000 people estimated to have crossed the Sicilian Channel, over 2,000 lost their lives at sea or have been declared missing.

Lampedusa Spring

Closed

In September 2011, a group of migrants set Lampedusa's reception center on fire. The episode brought back memories of the initial situation on the island. Italy called for a definite closure of the center, a decision that had immediate repercussions for local authorities and the economy. To this day, the center remains closed.

Lampedusa Spring

The extreme edge

Italy has now declared Lampedusa an unsafe port for migrants, which has drastically reduced the flow of migrants and refugees to the island. But there have been reports of abuse. One such complaint came from an Italian documentary director who said he saw Italian authorities mistreating two migrants onboard an Alitalia flight. Italian authorities dismissed the accusation.

Author: Gaia Anderson | Editor: Gabriel Borrud