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Banjul to Biella

It was 6:40 in the morning when the crew aboard the rescue vessel Iuventa sighted the rubber boat. Aboard were 129 people from Gambia, Senegal, Ghana, Guinea, and Nigeria, among other countries. They had departed six hours prior from the coast of Libya, where they were brought by paid smugglers. Thanks to the rescue mission, conducted by the German NGO Jugend Rettet, all of them survived that day.

Among them was Malick Jeng, 19-year-old Gambian whose life I've been documenting since he was rescued from the sea. He is one of the 181,436 refugees and migrants who reached Italy by sea in 2016, a year that broke all records in Mediterranean crossings. This reportage is an attempt to put face and name to this migratory tragedy, but also to visualize what happens after the rescues, once migrants arrive to Europe.

Malick left his hometown of Banjul, the capital of Gambia, five months before that rescue day in August 2016. He walked away alone, without telling his family, like many young people who have attempted the journey to Europe before him. After passing Senegal, he crossed the desert in Mali inside an oil tank, where he nearly suffocated. Once he arrived in Libya, he was imprisoned for a month.

Denounced by the International Organization for Migrations (IOM) as a “slave market,” Libya, plunged into a power struggle since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, is home to various armed groups that prey on sub-Saharan migrants in order to make money. They manage the migratory routes to the coasts, as well as the prisons where migrants are often confined and abused, their families extorted to pay for their release.

Malick had to witness the murder of some of his fellow travellers inside the prison. And as soon as he was released, thanks to a payment sent by his family, he immediately got in touch with a smuggler that transferred him to a “connection center” in the Libyan capital city of Tripoli. He waited there for weeks to be taken to the beach and depart towards Europe.

Jeng was first transferred to Sicily and then to Biella, a city in the north of Italy, where he has lived ever since, in a temporary reception centre called Hotel Colibri - an old hotel that had been closed for 10 years. The hotel was turned into a temporary reception centre for asylum seekers in August 2016. There he waits for an answer to his asylum request, a process that can last up to two years.

Migrants wait on board of the rescue vessel Iuventa - belonging to the NGO Jugend Rettet - for the Italian coastguard to transfer them to Italy. They were rescued 20 nautical miles off the Libyan coast, from a rubber boat with over one hundred people on board.
Migrants wait on board of the rescue vessel Iuventa - belonging to the NGO Jugend Rettet - for the Italian coastguard to transfer them to Italy. They were rescued 20 nautical miles off the Libyan coast, from a rubber boat with over one hundred people on board.
Mbeye, from Senegal, and Malick, from Gambia, look at the sea from the rescue vessel Iuventa. They have survived after seven hours of travel since their departure from the coast of Libya, traveling in a rubber boat with 120 on board, all of them rescued safe.
Mbeye, from Senegal, and Malick, from Gambia, look at the sea from the rescue vessel Iuventa. They have survived after seven hours of travel since their departure from the coast of Libya, traveling in a rubber boat with 120 on board, all of them rescued safe.
Several boys from Gambia and Senegal, who were on board of the same rubber boat as Malick, rest on the deck of the rescue vessel Iuventa minutes after the rescue of the rubber boat in which they tried to travel from Libya to Italy.
Several boys from Gambia and Senegal, who were on board of the same rubber boat as Malick, rest on the deck of the rescue vessel Iuventa minutes after the rescue of the rubber boat in which they tried to travel from Libya to Italy.
A column of smoke rises from a burning boat in the middle of the sea, the rubber boat in which Malick travelled. The boats used by migrants are burned or punctured by the authorities after rescues, to avert their being picked up and used again.
A column of smoke rises from a burning boat in the middle of the sea, the rubber boat in which Malick travelled. The boats used by migrants are burned or punctured by the authorities after rescues, to avert their being picked up and used again.
Malick lies on his bed in Hotel Colibri. He shares room with three more people from Gambia and Senegal.
Malick lies on his bed in Hotel Colibri. He shares room with three more people from Gambia and Senegal.
Malick and his friends Moussa, from Ivory Coast, and Mohammad, from Senegal, train before going to bed. They train every night as a way to keep their body in shape, but also to get tired so they fall asleep more easily.
Malick and his friends Moussa, from Ivory Coast, and Mohammad, from Senegal, train before going to bed. They train every night as a way to keep their body in shape, but also to get tired so they fall asleep more easily.
Baba, from Senegal, plays football with Malick, from Gambia, and Mohammed, from Mali, on a field covered by snow near the hotel. They saw snow for the first time during last winter.
Baba, from Senegal, plays football with Malick, from Gambia, and Mohammed, from Mali, on a field covered by snow near the hotel. They saw snow for the first time during last winter.
Migrants from different temporary reception centres in Biella play a friendly match on a Saturday morning. In the background, the mountain range of the Alps. Football is the main hobby among migrants, many of them have always dreamed of becoming professional football players.
Migrants from different temporary reception centres in Biella play a friendly match on a Saturday morning. In the background, the mountain range of the Alps. Football is the main hobby among migrants, many of them have always dreamed of becoming professional football players.
Malick and Muhammed, from Senegal, return home after playing football in a park located near the asylum seekers centre. This park is mostly used by elderly residents in adjacent buildings, as Biella has an aging population, which now have to coexist with the migratory reality.
Malick and Muhammed, from Senegal, return home after playing football in a park located near the asylum seekers centre. This park is mostly used by elderly residents in adjacent buildings, as Biella has an aging population, which now have to coexist with the migratory reality.
Entrance of Hotel Colibri, the closed hotel-turned-temporary reception centre where Malick lives. The building has capacity for up to 55 people, who have the right to stay in the centre for the duration of their asylum process, usually a maximum of two years.
Entrance of Hotel Colibri, the closed hotel-turned-temporary reception centre where Malick lives. The building has capacity for up to 55 people, who have the right to stay in the centre for the duration of their asylum process, usually a maximum of two years.
Portrait of Malick coming out of the shower, in his room at the Migrant Center Hotel Colibri. The building maintains all its facilities as they were before the hotel closed, including the furnishings of the rooms. The antiquity of the building mean that often there isn´t hot water.
Portrait of Malick coming out of the shower, in his room at the Migrant Center Hotel Colibri. The building maintains all its facilities as they were before the hotel closed, including the furnishings of the rooms. The antiquity of the building mean that often there isn´t hot water.
Hotel Colibri has capability for up to 55 people. Most of their time consists of sleeping, eating, and talking with family and friends through their mobile phones. All centers are obliged to offer free Wi-Fi. Corridor of Hotel Colibri. In the image, a corridor of Hotel Colibri.
Hotel Colibri has capability for up to 55 people. Most of their time consists of sleeping, eating, and talking with family and friends through their mobile phones. All centers are obliged to offer free Wi-Fi. Corridor of Hotel Colibri. In the image, a corridor of Hotel Colibri.
Sidou and Hadji, both from Senegal, and Moussa, from Mali, check their phones and chat with their relatives in the inside of the room they share in Hotel Colibri. All of them were transferred from other reception centres to Hotel Colibri in August 2016.
Sidou and Hadji, both from Senegal, and Moussa, from Mali, check their phones and chat with their relatives in the inside of the room they share in Hotel Colibri. All of them were transferred from other reception centres to Hotel Colibri in August 2016.
Patrick, from Ghana, has been working in the kitchen since arriving at the Hotel Colibri in August 2016. Since then, he has worked under the promise that he would receive a monthly financial contribution for his work. Until today he hasn´t received it.
Patrick, from Ghana, has been working in the kitchen since arriving at the Hotel Colibri in August 2016. Since then, he has worked under the promise that he would receive a monthly financial contribution for his work. Until today he hasn´t received it.
Mamadou, from Senegal, has lunch at Hotel Colibri. The asylum centre offers three meals a day, whose preparation is handled by some of the migrants. The menu is usually the same everyday: tea and bread for breakfast, rice with meet and fruit for lunch and rice with meat or fish for dinner.
Mamadou, from Senegal, has lunch at Hotel Colibri. The asylum centre offers three meals a day, whose preparation is handled by some of the migrants. The menu is usually the same everyday: tea and bread for breakfast, rice with meet and fruit for lunch and rice with meat or fish for dinner.
Malick watches TV at the living room in Hotel Colibri. This room used to be the reception of the hotel before it was closed. In August 2016, when it was reopened as a temporary reception centre for asylum seekers, this space turned into the TV room, where most of old the furniture remains there.
Malick watches TV at the living room in Hotel Colibri. This room used to be the reception of the hotel before it was closed. In August 2016, when it was reopened as a temporary reception centre for asylum seekers, this space turned into the TV room, where most of old the furniture remains there.
Malick prepares tea using a small electric heater. He follows the ritual of preparation of the tea that used to perform when he was next to his family. Once the tea is ready, he offers it to his friends while he continues preparing more. This is a way to consume part of his time.
Malick prepares tea using a small electric heater. He follows the ritual of preparation of the tea that used to perform when he was next to his family. Once the tea is ready, he offers it to his friends while he continues preparing more. This is a way to consume part of his time.
Abdoulie, from Gambia, lights a cigar in his friends’ room at the Hotel Colibrí. He arrived in Italy in August of 2016 after being rescued from the boat in which he was traveling. He maintains daily contact with his brother, who is now in Libya waiting his moment to embark and follow his same path.
Abdoulie, from Gambia, lights a cigar in his friends’ room at the Hotel Colibrí. He arrived in Italy in August of 2016 after being rescued from the boat in which he was traveling. He maintains daily contact with his brother, who is now in Libya waiting his moment to embark and follow his same path.
Migrants are not allowed to take friends, and especially women, into their rooms, although they sometimes do so, until operators working at the hotel are aware of it. In the image, Alexio, one of the operators, explains to some of the guests that they have to leave the building.
Migrants are not allowed to take friends, and especially women, into their rooms, although they sometimes do so, until operators working at the hotel are aware of it. In the image, Alexio, one of the operators, explains to some of the guests that they have to leave the building.
Daily life scene in one of the corridor of the Migrant Center Hotel Colibri, when one of the friend of Malick plays with him. Beyond Italian classes, migrants have nothing to do throughout the day, so they often spend playing between them both inside the hotel facilities, as in a nearby park.
Daily life scene in one of the corridor of the Migrant Center Hotel Colibri, when one of the friend of Malick plays with him. Beyond Italian classes, migrants have nothing to do throughout the day, so they often spend playing between them both inside the hotel facilities, as in a nearby park.
A policeman enters to the Hotel Colibri, for a labour inspection to the cooperative that manages the centre. The inspection came after the centre received a public complaint for making work some of the migrants who stay in the centre, without contract and without paying for their work.
A policeman enters to the Hotel Colibri, for a labour inspection to the cooperative that manages the centre. The inspection came after the centre received a public complaint for making work some of the migrants who stay in the centre, without contract and without paying for their work.
Famous, from Nigeria, has been living in the Hotel Colibri since August 2016. Before, he lived for several months in another refugee centre near Rome. In the picture, he looks at the street through the window of his room, from which he can see the neighbours in the building in front.
Famous, from Nigeria, has been living in the Hotel Colibri since August 2016. Before, he lived for several months in another refugee centre near Rome. In the picture, he looks at the street through the window of his room, from which he can see the neighbours in the building in front.
Malick (center) prays every Friday in the mosque “Al Huda”, one of the three mosques in Biella. Religion is one of the methods of escape practised by migrants. All of them very observant, both Muslim and Christian.
Malick (center) prays every Friday in the mosque “Al Huda”, one of the three mosques in Biella. Religion is one of the methods of escape practised by migrants. All of them very observant, both Muslim and Christian.
Malick, along with his colleagues from Hotel Colibri as well as from other migrant centres in Biella, attending Italian classes. All migrants receive Italian classes twice a week, in which they learn basic conversational skills to get on in their daily lives, as well as how to prepare their CV.
Malick, along with his colleagues from Hotel Colibri as well as from other migrant centres in Biella, attending Italian classes. All migrants receive Italian classes twice a week, in which they learn basic conversational skills to get on in their daily lives, as well as how to prepare their CV.
Malick studies Italian in his bed. Learning Italian will help him during the personal interview that will determine if he has the right to receive refugee status, since they take into account the ability to integrate in the Italian society.
Malick studies Italian in his bed. Learning Italian will help him during the personal interview that will determine if he has the right to receive refugee status, since they take into account the ability to integrate in the Italian society.
Malick, among some of his friends walk in a park located near where they live. It´s the place where they spend most of their time when they are outside of the temporary reception centre for asylum seekers.
Malick, among some of his friends walk in a park located near where they live. It´s the place where they spend most of their time when they are outside of the temporary reception centre for asylum seekers.
Malick poses for a portrait under a flowering almond tree, in a park near the migrant centre where he lives. It´s the beginning of the spring in Biella, which leaves behind a hard winter in the Alpine city, where Malick has experienced the first winter of his life.
Malick poses for a portrait under a flowering almond tree, in a park near the migrant centre where he lives. It´s the beginning of the spring in Biella, which leaves behind a hard winter in the Alpine city, where Malick has experienced the first winter of his life.
Malick, among some of his friends, heading home after spending some hours in a park located near by. He carries a speaker, that they use to listen music while they play sports or just sit around in the park. A friend of him bought it with the 75 euros of ‘pocket money’ that they receive every month.
Malick, among some of his friends, heading home after spending some hours in a park located near by. He carries a speaker, that they use to listen music while they play sports or just sit around in the park. A friend of him bought it with the 75 euros of ‘pocket money’ that they receive every month.
Malick walks through the streets of Biella, back to the migrant´s centre, where he must arrive before 10pm, as it is the time at which the centre closes. Migrants are allowed to stay outside the centre for a maximum of 72 hours, from that period they lose the right to be hosted there.
Malick walks through the streets of Biella, back to the migrant´s centre, where he must arrive before 10pm, as it is the time at which the centre closes. Migrants are allowed to stay outside the centre for a maximum of 72 hours, from that period they lose the right to be hosted there.
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