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WORLD NEWS Thursday 26 sepTember 2019

Migrants arrive in Europe with big

hopes, many questions

By RENATA BRITO and parents in their home had closed its ports to hu-
Associated Press countries, mostly in sub-Sa- manitarian rescue ships,
MESSINA, Sicily (AP) — haran Africa. saying their activities en-
As the weary passengers Abdul Kerim, 20, said he couraged human smug-
aboard a rescue ship ap- fled persecution in Togo gling. Police and Red Cross
proached Sicily at the end and wants to reunite with workers waited for the mi-
of an agonizing journey brothers and aunts living in grants on shore.
from North Africa, 30-year- Germany. As they approached Sicily,
old Seke Awa called a He hopes to be granted the passengers marveled
friend back in Libya the asylum and is open to any at a gargantuan cruise
moment she got cellphone kind of work, though he ship docked on the Italian
reception. dreams of having his own mainland across the Strait Men wait to disembark from the Ocean Viking ship as it reaches
the port of Messina, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019.
"I told her we are on the big construction company. of Messina.q Associated Press
boat and sent her courage, "I will work for Europe and
that she needs to have give all I have," he said.
hope. One day her suffer- "If possible I would like my
ing may end," said Awa, a family to join me." His wife
native of Cameroon. and 2-year-old son are still
"She was crying." in Togo.
A total of 182 people, res- However, Kerim and oth-
cued a week ago from ers disembarking in Mes-
fragile boats off Libya's sina will have no control
coast, arrived in Italy on over where they end up.
Tuesday, filled with excite- Their fate will be decided in
ment and hope, but also negotiations among a few
myriad questions about European countries that
what comes next. agreed to take them in.
Will they be allowed to stay Asylum is typically reserved
in Europe? If so, in which for people fleeing war
country? and persecution. People
And will they have a escaping poverty in West
choice? Can they go to Africa rarely qualify. In Ger-
school even if they are many, only 6.5% of Nige-
adults? How much does a rians whose asylum cases
SIM card cost? have been decided this
Nelson Oyedele, 37, said year received some sort
he fled violence and pov- of protection. For Syrians, it
erty in Nigeria with his wife was nearly 84%.
and four small children. The migrants on the Ocean
"I don't know where I'm Viking came from a num-
going to end up, I'm just ber of countries, includ-
going," he told an Associ- ing Sudan, Cameroon,
ated Press reporter on the Guinea, Mali, Egypt, Mo-
Ocean Viking, a Norwe- rocco and Bangladesh.
gian-flagged rescue ship As they arrived in Messina,
run by the humanitarian their immediate worry was
organizations Doctors With- contacting loved ones for
out Borders and SOS Medi- the first time since they left
terranee. Libya, where rape, torture
"My daughter says she and abuse are widespread
wants to become a doctor. at the hands of smugglers
She could never become a demanding ransom pay-
doctor back in our country. ments from the migrants'
Maybe here she will." families.
Oyedele was the only man The Ocean Viking docked
on the ship traveling as part in Messina after receiving
of a complete family. permission to enter Italy, a
The rest had left behind country that until a change
wives, husbands, children of governments this month