Remembering the refugees of Lampedusa
Lampedusa is regarded by many Africans as a gateway to Europe. Human rights activist Mamadou Ba visited the island recently and his photos cast light on the fate of the refugees who died on their way to Lampedusa.
Lampedusa, gateway to Europe
For many Africans who want to enter Europe, the Italian island of Lampedusa is seen as a gateway. Senagalese-born Mamadou Ba is a human rights activist with SOS Racismo who has been living in Portugal since 1997. He recently visited Lampedusa and his photos commemorate the many refugees who died in the attempt to reach Europe.
A ships' graveyard
At the ships' graveyard in Lampedusa lie the remains of vessels that brought African refugees to Europe. Many lost their lives while crossing the sea to the Italian island. The greatest tragedy occured on October 3, 2013, when 366 refugees were drowned. On January 11, 2014, the Italian navy rescued about 200 refugees.
Dying while seeking a better life
Lampedusa is now regarded as a cemetery for thousands of immigrants. "People have to die just because they try to have a better life" said Mamadou Ba . In October 2013, 400 people lost their lives on the way from North Africa to Lampedusa. The majority came from Eritrea and Somalia.
Relics of a deadly crossing
Little is known about the people who die while attempting to enter Europe. Most of them end their lives as anonymous statistics. They left few traces such as these dresses that were retrieved after ships sank off Lampedusa.
Objects of humanity
A few personal items belonging to the victims of shipwrecks, such as passports, personal photographs and notes, can be seen in a small museum in Lampedusa. "These objects help us to remember these people, despite their deaths. Some of the objects show us that the refugees were simple people with simple dreams," said Mamadou Ba.
Everyday routine on the high seas
The immigrants bring with them their habits and their culture. They also try to maintain certain routines while crossing the Mediterranean. It is not known whether these pots on show in the Lampedusa museum belonged to refugees who lost their lives or if they are lost belongings of people who survived the crossing.
Remembrance of lost lives
Traces of the immigrants can be found all over the nine mile (14 kilometers)-long island. "They allow us to keep alive the memories of people who are no longer alive," Mamadou Ba said. Lampedusa is located about 205 kilometers south of the Italian island of Sicily and is only about 130 kilometers from Tunisia. This makes Lampedusa an ideal bridge to Europe.
Against "Fortress Europe"
This bunker from the Second World War is a symbol of the European Union's fortress mentality. In February 2014 over 400 representatives of civil society protested against this and called for a new European immigration policy. In view of the many deaths taking place at the borders of the EU, they demand more respect for the refugees' human rights.
The Mediterranean off Lampedusa
Inhabitants of the small Italian island located in the Mediterranean between Sicily and North Africa are now hoping for better days. But as long as European immigration policy is not radically redesigned, few people believe that the flow of immigrants and the associated tragedies will end.