Immigrants continue arriving in southern Italy fromNorth Africa. These migrants faced a dangerous tripwhen they sailed across the Mediterranean Sea. Theyreach land only to face an unknown future in Europe.
On the island of Sicily, there is an activist ready to helpthe refugees on their journey. She lives in the city ofCatania. The woman is known to some as "the angel of the migrants."
Among the crowd of Syrian refugees in Catania station, it is the number of children that is striking. There arebabies just a few weeks old. These Syrians have fledcivil war. And they have spent up to 20 days at sea in an old fishing boat.
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A rescuer holds a child in the Sicilian harbor of Pozzallo, Italy on April 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) |
The refugees are tired. They have little money and fewbelongings. What they do bring with them are stories ofterror and loss. The refugees who survived the boatride to Italy now start the next part of their trip – a nighttrain ride to the city of Milan.
In Catania, a man describes what forced him to flee hishome in Rif Al Sham, a community near Damascus.His name is Ahmad Anwar Fares.
He says they bombed his house, killing his 4-month-olddaughter when part of the building fell on her. Mr. Faressays he has two sons. After the bombing of his home, he says, he immediately got his boys and left.
For the migrants arriving in Catania, there is at leastone friendly face waiting for them.
Nawal Soufi is a Moroccan-Italian woman. She is known as the “Angel of theMigrants.” Ms. Soufi and her friends offer baby food and clothes to the newarrivals, along with words of advice.
She says to them, "I love you all. You are my family. God bless you and mayyou achieve your dreams."
Nawal Soufi is part of a network of activists helping migrants in Italy. Part of the work of the activists is helping migrants avoid being exploited, or used, by con men. Ms. Soufi explains.
On this day, she says, a group of con men offered to drive them to the northfor 500 euros each. She explains to the migrants that they have the right totake a train and that the police cannot stop them.
Ms. Soufi says she helps the migrants so she can "feel like a human being"when she returns home at night; so she does not feel she is a part of thetragedy; so she does not feel she has the blood of these people on her hands.
After leaving North Africa, migrants often call Ms. Soufi from a satellite phoneso she can then alert the coast guard. This has earned her the nickname"Lady SOS." SOS is the international Morse code signal for help.
But not all those fleeing Syria are lucky enough toreach Italian waters. Earlier this month, up to 900migrants died when their boat sank off Libya. Ms. Soufisays she is angry at Europe's inaction.
And she asks some hard questions: “How is it possiblethat Europe cannot guarantee a humanitarian passagefrom Syria? And why cannot each European countrytake a share of these migrants? "
“Europe is considered a group of democraticcountries,” she adds, “where everyone knows about human rights. Perhapsthey only know about democracy on paper. Nine hundred is not just anumber,” she says. “It is 900 people.”
The migrants at Catania have survived that deadly trip. Now they face newfears.
Nawal Soufi goes to the train station to say ‘good bye’ to the migrants whenthey leave for Milan.
She urges them to be strong. She will return the next day, ready to helpanother wave of migrants arriving on this corner of Europe's southern shores.
I’m Anna Matteo.
Henry Ridgwell reported this story for VOA News from Catania, Italy. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in This Story
striking – adj. unusual or extreme in a way that attracts attention
network – n. a group of people or organizations that are closely connectedand that work with each other
exploit – v. to use (someone or something) in a way that helps you unfairly
con man – n. informal a man who cheats or tricks someone by means of aconfidence game
satellite phone – n. a type of mobile phone that connects to orbiting satellitesinstead of cell sites on earth
