“They share with me their worst stories, the reasons of their decisions, the videos of the darkest moments, tears in their eyes, when they talk about their mothers or sisters,” – writes Anna Alboth, journalist and activist at Minority Rights Group Intl. and a cooperator of Salam Lab.
Anna, the initiator of the March to Aleppo in 2016, published a short text describing the situation in the Canary Islands. It clearly shows the next place in the European Union which becomes a place of crisis – not a migration crisis, but first of all a crisis of solidarity.
Read the words of Anna:
“When we were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize few years ago, I felt: oh, will be so difficult to get higher than that.
But it is not about getting higher, it is about getting deeper.
When I was nominated last week for an important award I felt: oh, it would be so great to win, because this could give so much visibility to the place I am now: Canary Islands, to the situation and stories that are not yet said loud enough.
Canary Islands are the new Greek islands, but even more: what Europe is doing in the countries like Gambia or Senegal is directly forcing people to leave and risk their lives to come to.. Europe.
When I was with those guys just next to the fence of a refugee camp CEIP León (the building of college) in Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, I felt: I am so privileged to get the trust of people so fast.
They share with me their worst stories, the reasons of their decisions, the videos of the darkest moments, tears in their eyes, when they talk about their mothers or sisters, they ask me (sometimes via google translate) the hardest questions (like Hamza here: “Anna, will I be deported?”).
I am privileged to get deeper and closer. It gives me not only the bigger picture but also the stronger power.
Because when I am pissed off, I am full of motivation.
PS. Hamza, shukran for the jacket. You noticed me shaking, and you just shared what you had. I wish that Europe would be like you, seriously”.
The number of people who arrived in the Canary Islands in 2020 increased almost 10 times compared to 2019 (from 2.7 thousand to over 23 thousand people), including many children and minors.
As in the case of refugees arriving in the Greek islands, these people end up in makeshift camps where – in terrible hygienic and housing conditions – they can wait years for decisions about what to do next.
Does it piss you off too? Share this information and follow Anna on Facebook!
Fot. Karol Grygoruk
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