In the picturesque town of Oulx, situated in a corner of the Italian Alps, Sudanese and Afghan migrants are preparing for their arduous journey to reach the UK. Around 150 migrants have arrived at a makeshift camp in Oulx, where local volunteers provide them with donated coats to survive the freezing temperatures of the mountains. These migrants, mostly young men, have traveled from Africa and the Middle East to Italy, and now they aim to go further to France and beyond.
Italy has seen a significant increase in migrant arrivals, with over 130,000 migrants entering the country this year, almost double the number during the same period in 2021. The surge in arrivals is attributed to the increased boat crossings to the southern Italian island of Lampedusa. As a result, the number of migrants traveling north to the border with France has also doubled in recent months.
However, the French authorities have reintroduced controls on their border with Italy, detaining and pushing back undocumented migrants. France’s actions have been criticized as breaching EU law by the European Court of Justice, which emphasizes that migrants should be subject to an official return decision and that forced removal should be a last resort.
Despite the challenges and risks involved, migrants like Omar from Nigeria are determined to reach their desired destinations. Omar paid smugglers $800 to cross the Mediterranean to Lampedusa from Libya. After staying in two camps in Italy, he managed to reach the French border and now aims to reach the UK. Omar’s dream is to have a good life and study in the UK, even if he is aware of the risks and the possibility of being refused asylum and sent back.
While some migrants fail in their attempts and are caught and returned to the makeshift camp in Italy, such instances are relatively rare. Volunteers working at the camp believe that Italian police are turning a blind eye to their activities, knowing the purpose of the migrants’ presence but pretending not to know. The Italian Prime Minister has criticized NGOs and countries like Germany that provide support to migrants, denouncing them as “a pull factor.” However, volunteers argue that it is their responsibility to help those in need, especially considering the risks involved in the mountainous routes.
The journey to the UK is perilous, with migrants facing mist-shrouded paths and dropping temperatures in the Alps. Many migrants choose to scatter into the forest near the border, hiding and waiting for an opportunity to dash across the mountains unnoticed. Some migrants explore alternative routes in Ventimiglia, near Nice, where they camp out at the train station and try their luck on cross-border trains. However, France’s controls are stringent, and French police conduct thorough checks on trains arriving from Italy, leading to the detention and return of migrants without identity papers.
The rise in migrant arrivals and the challenges faced in Ventimiglia have angered the mayor, who criticizes France’s suspension of the Schengen free movement zone and the burden placed on Italy to manage the migration crisis alone. He describes the situation as reaching a limit and fears that Ventimiglia could become the Lampedusa of the north.
Amidst the forests of the Alps and the railways of Ventimiglia, a new bottleneck in Europe is emerging. The determination of desperate migrants is proving difficult to quash, despite the actions taken by European leaders. Red Cross workers provide essential aid to migrants, but stories of severe frostbite and amputations highlight the dangers faced by those attempting the treacherous journey.
The plight of migrants seeking better lives and the challenges they encounter along the way raise important questions about the need for better international cooperation and comprehensive immigration policies. As the number of migrants continues to rise, it is imperative to address the root causes of migration and find humane solutions to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals seeking refuge and opportunities in different parts of the world.
