With this photo project, I have attempted to show a glimpse of the migrants’ life that try to cross the French-Italian border in Ventimiglia (Imperia, Italy).
At the beginning of the summer 2015, because of the massive influx of refugees in the region, French authorities decided to increase border controls in the Alpes-Maritimes department. As a result, migrants were trapped in an Escherian loop between the border and the Ventimiglia train station, which are approximately 8km far from each other, in the hope to find a way to reach France (train, people smugglers, walking along the railways and the motorway, take the pass of death in Grimaldi…). Suddenly, on June 11 2015, a group of around 50 migrants, mostly Africans, decided to camp on a rocky strip immediately east of the border with France spending the night. The group warned the Italian police that in case the officers attempted to arrest them, they would have jumped in the sea. Their purpose was to avoid getting fingerprints[1] and photograph taken as well as protesting against the increased border patrols aimed at taking migrants back into the limbo at Ventimiglia’s railway station. These spontaneous efforts have been done without the support or hijack of political grassroots organisations, as otherwise happened days later. Their mantra went: “let’s wait on the rocks until we manage to cross the borderâ€. During this period, many other migrants joined, bringing the number up to 300. Some of these migrants were trying to reach their friends and relatives, while others tried to enter France – or other European countries – with the hope of starting a new life there.
Determined to document the events, I have been involved in sharing their daily life for around one month: from the 11th June 2015 to the first part of July 2015, when all of them found alternative ways to reach their destination (mostly from other French borders, Switzerland and Austria).Â
These photos were taken in summer 2015 and I voluntarily omitted their names in the captions in order to protect their privacy.
[1] According to the Dublin Regulation, migrants can apply for an asylum claim only in the first EU-Member State through which they first entered the EU. This is the reason why most of refugees fear this procedure.
Eritrean refugee waits for the first morning train to Paris at Nice train station (Gare de Nice-Ville). Since June 9th 2015, French police has increased border controls impeding refugees from getting on train to Paris and forcedly bringing them back to the border in Ventimiglia.
Nice, France, 12 June 2015
Eritrean and Syrian refugees are questioned on the platform at Nice train station (Gare de Nice-Ville). Since June 9th 2015, French police has increased border controls impeding refugees from getting on train to Paris and forcedly bringing them back to the border in Ventimiglia.
Nice, France, on 12 June 2015
French gendarmerie escorts some refugees outside Nice train station (Gare de Nice-Ville) where a bus waits for them. Since June 9th 2015, French police has increased border controls impeding refugees from getting on train to Paris and forcedly bringing them forcedly back to the border in Ventimiglia.
Nice, France, 12 June 2015
French gendarme orders refugees to get on the bus outside Nice train station (Gare de Nice-Ville). Since June 9th, 2015 French police has increased border controls impeding refugees from getting on train to Paris and forcedly bringing them forcedly back to the border in Ventimiglia.
Nice, France, 12 June 2015
Eritrean refugee is forced to get on a bus that will bring him back to Ventimiglia. Since June  9th 2015, French police has increased border controls impeding refugees from getting on train to Paris and forcedly bringing them back to the border in Ventimiglia.
Nice, France, 12 June 2015
Eritrean refugee argues with French gendarmerie after being forced to get on a bus that brings him back to Ventimiglia. Since June 9th 2015, French police has increased border controls impeding refugees from getting on train to Paris and forcedly bringing them back to the border in Ventimiglia.
From the left to the right: the city of Menton, the highway and the hill where on the top there is the pass of death, a way once used by political refugees during fascism, now exploited by refugees to cross the border.
Grimaldi (Ventimiglia), Italy, 14 June 2015
Red Cross volunteer gives emergency blankets to refugees who stage a sit-in on the rocks at the French-Italian border San Ludovico.
Ventimiglia, Italy, 13 June 2015
Refugees stand on the rocks by the coast of Ventimiglia while one of them is displaying his train ticket to Paris.
Ventimiglia, Italy, 14 June 2015
Somali refugee displays his train ticket to Paris on the rocks in Ventimiglia. He has previously been expelled from France at Nice train station (Gare de Nice-Ville).
Ventimiglia, Italy, 14 June 2015.
Refugees and activists collect train tickets in wish to get a refund. Many refugees have been refused to get on trains to Paris at Nice train station (Gare de Nice-Ville).
Ventimiglia, Italy, 14 June 2015
Refugees sits beside the French border Ponte San Ludovico as they wait for the opportunity to cross into France.
Ventimiglia, Italy, 14 June 2015
Refugees tries to connect to a random Wi-Fi network while Italian and French police stand beside them at Ponte San Ludovico (French-Italian border).
Ventimiglia, Italy, 19 June 2015
Three Sudanese refugees connect to Facebook with a laptop provided by local activists in order to get in touch with their families.
Ventimiglia, Italy, 18 June 2015
Refugee brushes his teeth in the early morning while two others sleep on the rocks at Ponte San Ludovico (French-Italian border).
Ventimiglia, Italy, 17 June 2015
Refugees wash themselves with seawater at the border between Italy and France in the city of Ventimiglia.
Ventimiglia, Italy, June 14, 2015.
A group of refugees choose/receives clothes provided by activists, volunteers and ordinary people at Ponte San Ludovico (French-Italian border).
Ventimiglia, Italy, 20 June 2015
Italian farmer stands in front of his solar panel that built to let refugees charging phone and connecting to the Internet at Ponte San Ludovico (French-Italian border).
Ventimiglia, Italy, 22 June 2015
Sudanese refugee draws in order to kill time while waiting to pass the border.
Ventimiglia, Italy, 22 june 2015
The Imam of Nice leads Islamic prayer during Ramadan in Ventimiglia.
Ventimiglia, Italy, 17 June 2015
The Imam of Nice gives free Qurans to refugees after the late evening prayer during Ramadan.
Ventimiglia, Italy 17 June 2015
Muslim refugees have dinner in the late evening during Ramadan.
Ventimiglia, Italy, 17 June 2015
Refugees and activists discuss issues together during an assembly at Ponte San Ludovico (French-Italian border).
Ventimiglia, Italy, 24 June 2015
The camp on the rocks at its largest extension with Menton in the background.
Ventimiglia, Italy, 24 june 2015
