Sinawi Medine

Documentary photographer

www.zenphotographe.com

Survivors

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Location: Nice

Nationality: France, Eritrea

Biography: Based in France since 2009, I grew up in Eritrea and began photography as a self-taught artist before moving towards photoreportage. For several years I have been developing documentary projects on migration and exile, a way to keep track of the... MORE

Hard to imagine that in this da...disappear in the Mediterranean.

1 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Hard to imagine that in this dangerous sea, with waves up to 5 to 6 meters, people are embarked on inflatable boats without radio or lifejacket: be saved or disappear in the Mediterranean.

Humanitarian rescue operations ...looking throw the Mediterranean

2 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Humanitarian rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea, by the European civil organization Sos Méditerranée in partnership with Médecins du Monde: Onboard, West African women have a rest and meditate looking throw the Mediterranean

Humanitarian rescue operations ...the rescuers arrive on the spot

3 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Humanitarian rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea: During this tragic rescue, only 108 people were saved. The Aquarius had received an emergency call from the MRCC following a report made by a tanker. For a long time, the inflatable boat has been drilled by the waves for many hours when the rescuers arrive on the spot

Only luggage, a contact in Europe

4 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Only luggage, a contact in Europe

After avoiding the worst, refug...ill be on land in a few minutes

5 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

After avoiding the worst, refugees will be on land in a few minutes

A young Eritrean exile on the e... who are still there."

6 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

A young Eritrean exile on the edge of a river on the French-Italian border: "You can't imagine how I feel today, I was locked up for a year in darkness in Libya, I had to pay 8000 dollars to be freed, in August in the Mediterranean we were rescued by Italian coastguards and then stayed eleven days at sea because Italy wouldn't let us land..., today I'm apprehensive for those who are still there."

The French Italian border is cl...emain blocked for several weeks

7 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

The French Italian border is closed for exiled people, on the seaside, a few meters from the French territory, refugees remain blocked for several weeks

Unaccompanied minors are numero...e to stay and begin a new life.

8 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Unaccompanied minors are numerous in the french Roya valley; without protection, they must continue on their way to find a safe place to stay and begin a new life.

Since the border closure in Men...tself at the edge of the river.

9 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Since the border closure in Menton in June 2015 and after the expulsion of the camp "No Borders" three months later, the refugees find themselves stuck in Ventimiglia, where a transit camp improvised itself at the edge of the river.

Waiting to go to register for a...t Breil sur Roya police station

10 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Waiting to go to register for asylum application at Breil sur Roya police station

During their migratory journey ...inuing their journey to Germany

11 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

During their migratory journey through Europe, an Eritrean family is welcomed for a night by solidarity citizens. They will be able to rest before continuing their journey to Germany

To find a shelter solution for ...the French police the day after

12 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

To find a shelter solution for the hundred refugees who arrived in the valley, activists open an old mansion in Saint Dalmas de Tinée; the place has been evacuated by the French police the day after

Police patrols at the Col de l&...peach exiled entering in France

13 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Police patrols at the Col de l'Echelle, near Briançon to impeach exiled entering in France

To escape police control in the...n recorded at the French border

14 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

To escape police control in the mountains, refugees sometimes have to hide or take dangerous routes for several days. Accidents and sometimes tragedies have been recorded at the French border

To go from one place of refuge ...e most dangerous is behind him.

15 of 15 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

To go from one place of refuge to another, always by night, on foot, by train, or by car with the help of citizens, this young exile will continue his journey across the country, hoping that the most dangerous is behind him.

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Thumbnail of Hard to imagine that in this dan_ disappear in the Mediterranean.

Thumbnail of Humanitarian rescue operations i_ looking throw the Mediterranean

Thumbnail of Humanitarian rescue operations i_ the rescuers arrive on the spot

Thumbnail of Only luggage, a contact in Europe

Thumbnail of After avoiding the worst, refuge_will be on land in a few minutes

Thumbnail of A young Eritrean exile on the ed_e who are still there."

Thumbnail of The French Italian border is clo_remain blocked for several weeks

Thumbnail of Unaccompanied minors are numerou_ce to stay and begin a new life.

Thumbnail of Since the border closure in Ment_itself at the edge of the river.

Thumbnail of Waiting to go to register for as_at Breil sur Roya police station

Thumbnail of During their migratory journey t_tinuing their journey to Germany

Thumbnail of To find a shelter solution for t_ the French police the day after

Thumbnail of Police patrols at the Col de l&a_mpeach exiled entering in France

Thumbnail of To escape police control in the _en recorded at the French border

Thumbnail of To go from one place of refuge t_he most dangerous is behind him.

Public Story

Survivors

Copyright Sinawi Medine 2024

Date of Work Mar 2015 - Ongoing

Updated Jan 2022

Location Mediterranee

Topics Activism, Borders, Children, Civil Rights, Documentary, Freedom, Health/Healing, Homelessness, Human Rights, Immigration, Journalism, Migration, NGO, Oppression, Personal Projects, Photography, Photojournalism, Refugees, Swimming, War and its effects, Youth

“Survivors” is a long-term documentary photography project focused on the experience of African exiles. The project rests on the belief that refugees go into exile to become, to have the opportunity to live freely, to build their future, and to participate positively in society. This investigation intends to show the ardent courage to live and to defy the common depiction of people who have become refugees.

Documenting the road to exile I have been working at different spots in the Mediterranean and on the Franco-Italian border (2015-2018) highlighting the difficulties and dangers experienced along the migratory journey, questioning how people made the choice of embarking on a path from which many disappear.

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