Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

The French film ‘Les Survivants’ (The Survivors), which premiered at the 2024 Francofilm Festival in Rome, offers a powerful and nuanced portrayal of the migrant experience through the intersecting lenses of mourning and grueling physicality. Directed by 33-year-old Guillaume Renusson, the movie follows an unlikely bond formed between a widowed alpine resident and an Afghan refugee braving the treacherous journey to reunite with her husband in France. In an interview with ANSA, Renusson, whose first feature film won the top prize at Rome’s Independent Film Festival, discussed the profound inspirations that shaped his cinematic storytelling. The director’s previous work assisting…

Many refugees granted asylum in Greece are leaving the country due to a lack of integration policies and support, making it extremely difficult for them to find housing, employment, and establish themselves. With limited prospects for rebuilding their lives in Greece, an increasing number are seeking asylum again – this time in Belgium and other European nations. The story of Edo, a refugee from Congo who obtained asylum in Greece in 2021, exemplifies the challenges faced by many. Despite having legal status, Edo spent years struggling to find work or housing in Greece. “You are given a status but it’s…

As Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party battles legal efforts to monitor its activities as a suspected extremist group, it has called on some of its immigrant members to testify that the party is not racist. This move comes after a 2021 ruling allowed domestic intelligence to investigate the AfD over concerns about right-wing extremism, inching it closer to a potential ban. In a Münster court hearing this week, three AfD members with international backgrounds aimed to defend the party against accusations of racism and xenophobia. Meysam Ehtemai, a former mayoral candidate who came to Germany from Iran as…

In the tumultuous waters of the Aegean Sea, a distressing incident unfolded as an inflatable boat, ferrying migrants, tragically capsized off the Turkish coast. This harrowing shipwreck, near Gokceada (Imbros), Turkey’s largest island in the northwestern province of Canakkale, resulted in the devastating loss of at least eight lives, including two infants. Prompting an immediate response, Turkish officials swiftly initiated a search and rescue operation following the tragic shipwreck, mobilizing helicopters and planes to scour the area for survivors. Amidst the chaos, two migrants were thankfully rescued by the Turkish coast guard, while another two managed to find safety on…

A coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has strongly condemned the Italian government’s recent escalation in imposing administrative stops on humanitarian ships engaged in rescuing migrants at sea. In a joint statement issued on March 14, SOS Humanity, Sea Eye, Sea Watch, and United4Rescue decried the surge in administrative halts imposed on their German-flagged rescue vessels over the past week. According to the NGOs, three of their rescue ships – Humanity 1, Sea-Watch 5, and Sea-Eye 4 – have been barred from carrying out their lifesaving operations “based on false accusations” leveled by Italian authorities. Of particular concern is the unprecedented…

In a tragic twist of fate, over 60 migrants, including vulnerable women and children, are believed to have perished during a treacherous voyage across the Mediterranean Sea from Libya to Europe. This heart-wrenching revelation stems from survivors rescued by the Ocean Viking, a vessel operated by the French humanitarian organization SOS Mediterranee. The survivors recount a harrowing journey that commenced on March 8th when their vessel departed from Zawiya, Libya. Within three days, the boat encountered mechanical failure, rendering it powerless and leaving its occupants adrift without sustenance or hydration for days on end. Among the 224 migrants saved by…

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has highlighted the role of “push factors” such as poverty, climate change, and conflict in driving the surge of migrants seeking asylum in countries like Ireland. Speaking during his visit to Washington DC for St Patrick’s Day events, Varadkar emphasized that these external pressures have led to a significant global movement of over 100 million people. While acknowledging that only a small percentage of this population finds its way to Ireland, Varadkar admitted the strain it places on the country’s resources. He described the current situation as “very difficult,” citing challenges in providing accommodation for…

Spanish authorities have uncovered a disturbing network that has been profiting for years by exploiting the anguish of families searching for missing migrants from North Africa. In a coordinated effort, police arrested fourteen individuals across Almería, Murcía, and Jaén, seizing substantial assets including €70,000 in cash, vehicles, and incriminating documents. The elaborate criminal operation targeted vulnerable families in Morocco and Algeria, luring them with false promises of information regarding their missing loved ones. Operating through fake social media profiles, the network first established contact with distraught relatives, offering to assist in locating the missing migrants. When news of a shipwreck…

Germany is actively seeking skilled workers from Kenya to help address its labour shortages in various sectors. The two nations are currently negotiating a migration agreement that would facilitate easier relocation of Kenyan workers to Germany. This move comes as Germany faces an acute need for foreign workers, not just in highly skilled fields like IT and engineering but also in vocations like bus driving, automotive repair, and elderly care. The potential migration deal with Kenya follows a similar agreement Germany struck with Morocco, marking its second such partnership in Africa. These migration partnerships aim to create more legal pathways…

As the number of migrants journeying to the Greek island of Crete continues to rise, Athens is stepping up its efforts to garner European Union assistance for a prospective agreement with Egypt aimed at facilitating the return of irregular migrants from the North African nation. This initiative follows a recent surge in the arrival of Egyptian nationals attempting to enter Greece via the southern island. Greek government estimates reveal that approximately 1,500 individuals have arrived by sea from Egypt to the small island of Gavdos, situated south of Crete, in the past three months alone. This influx reached a peak…