2 October 2014
I have given up trying to write a remembrance for the 368 people who died in the shipwreck off Lampedusa, a southern Italian island, one year ago. Words to honor their bravery, remember their plight, and comfort their loved ones... I am not eloquent enough, and the images of rows of coffins, including tiny child-sized ones, strangle my thoughts. Others will give speeches on this anniversary.
Those who died were desperately attempting to reach Europe from North Africa by crossing the Mediterranean. Forty-three survivors and family members of victims are on Lampedusa for commemorations. The Comitato 3 ottobre, a nonprofit association, raised the money to bring survivors from other EU countries where they now live.
Fanus, a young Eritrean woman who has since been granted asylum in Sweden, will be there. Her experience—a harrowing journey, mishandled reception in Italy, and desperate efforts to get to northern Europe—are all too common. Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament; Federica Mogherini, Italian foreign minister and incoming EU foreign affairs chief; Laura Boldrini, president of the Italian lower house of parliament; and Angelino Alfano, the Italian interior minister, will be there too.
In response to this tragedy, one year ago, the European Commission and EU member states promised to do more to prevent deaths at sea. A task force was set up, meetings were held. But it was Italy, on its own, that launched a massive naval search and rescue operation, Mare Nostrum, that has since brought over 91,000 people safely to shore. Despite this effort, over 3,000 women, men, and children have drowned in the Mediterranean since January.
