TRANSMIGRATIONS TRANSMIGRATIONS Europe
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TRANSMIGRATIONS TRANSMIGRATIONS Europe. Before the beginning of the war in 2011 there were over one million citizens of A Journey of thousands of sub-Sahara Africa in Libya – a huge number, kilometres along the trans-Sahara especially in comparison with the almost route towards Libya. 70.000 migrants that landed on the Italian coast from 2008-2009, the years of the Transmigrations was realized in Africa, greatest influx. It is estimated that 12% along one of the most epical human of all those who set sail from the African migratory trails, that leads from the dusty coast die during the crossing. roads of the Atlantic coast to the ancient town of Agadez in Niger to then cross Transmigrations tells the stories of these the emptiness of the Sahara Desert to migrants and especially of the “stranded”, the Mediterranean shores of Libya. An those who, having run out of money or exhausting journey, peppered with dangers lost the cash they need to continue the and hitches, which can last for months, but journey, are forced to work, often in slave- this does not dissuade thousands of young like conditions, hoping that their master Africans from undertaking it. will soon give them enough money to set off again. In the countries touched by this route the last few years have seen a succession of wars, armed revolts and Al Quaeda infiltrations, but this has had no effect on the number of migrants setting off each month in search of work, urged by the unique, albeit remote, hope of reaching Burkina Faso, Banfora. The women who work in the sugar cane plantations are waiting for the company truck to take them back to their village. For about 6 hours’ work they earned on average €0,60 a figure that guarantees neither acceptable living standards nor sufficient sustenance. Awaiting them at home is an afternoon toiling in their gardens and collecting water. The exploitation of the best land for cultivating non-endemic crops destined for export is on the causes of the food shortages that periodically afflict the Sahel area. It is from these difficulties in procuring minimal sustenance for oneself and one’s family that the incentive to search for improved conditions overseas. Europe is the most cherished dream. Burkina Faso, Banfora. Marie works in a sugar cane plantation. She is taken to work at 5 o‘clock in the morning and a truck comes to pick her and her workmates up at midday. It takes about 3 hours to weed a 250 metre row of sugar cane, and she has managed to weed two of them. Wages are negotiated on a day-to-day basis and usually those who are more seriously in need of work accept a lower rate of pay. The average wage is about €0,60 a day. The plantations are owned by state-run companies in which international multinationals often have shares. Sugar cane cultivation requires excessive amounts of water and the deep wells used for irrigation deprive the local farmers of this precious resource. Burkina Faso, Zorgho. Aline Ouerdrago is thirteen years old. She lives with her mother, her brothers and her father’s other wife, who is also accompanied by her own relatives. Her father died several years ago and Aline’s family became a member of Acced*, an association which assists families in difficulty and also includes the Cefed* association. Iris Afrik is the African NGO which by supporting Cefed* helps widows and their families through programmes of professional training, educational assistance, micro-credit and trade set-up. Without this support these women would risk marginalisation from a culture which is still too obtuse to recognise that they can be independent or run businesses. Aline ensures that her goats have a drink before shutting them into their pen. Her mother, Monique Ouerdrago, is the general secretary of Acced. *Acced: Association cri de coeur pour les enfantes déshérités. *Cefed: Centre d’éducation et formation pour les enfants en difficulté. Burkina Faso, Banfora. The waterfalls of Karfiguéla. The southern part of the country is rich in water and fertile land and this is where the plantations of cotton and sugar cane are largely concentrated. These crops damage the land, turning it to desert in a matter of decades and leaving the local farmers without fertile land to cultivate. The water used for irrigation of the plantations is drawn from very deep wells which dry out those of the neighbouring villages. Burkina Faso, Tièbèlè. A large Baobab tree on the edge of a millet field. Burkina Faso, Tiebele. Adjagou Kane is a Gourounsi woman, and she is shown here with her daughter, who smilingly carries the pots for water and millet flour for dinner. The child is too young to understand that they are supported mainly by Adjagou’s brother, who has emigrated to Norway. Adjagou Kane’s house is built in typical Gourounsi style. Burkina Faso, Bassi & Zanga. Omar Issouf is at home with his oldest son and his wife. They are waiting for the storm to pass, and hoping that it will bring enough water to nourish their plants. Omar is 25 years old and has 2 children. He dreams of coming to work in Italy. He has heard talk of a region where tomato pickers are paid €20 a day and where the living conditions for immigrant workers are similar to those in his own country or in Ghana, where he has migrated to every year to work in the cocoa and coffee plantations. A year after this photograph was taken, thanks to the reservoir built by Bnd*, for the first time in their village history the men of Bassi and Zanga didn’t go to work in Ghana during the dry season, but stayed at home and worked their own land and sold their own produce at the local market. Omar is the oldest of the 20 children of Compaore Issouf, the chief of the Mossi people of Bassi and Zanga. Burkina Faso, Seno Oudalan province. The Gorom-Gorom road is subject to flooding during the rains and it is impossible to cross some of the bridges with the engine switched on because of the risk of damage from excessive water. The local population gathers near these bridges to help push cars and trucks across to reach the more northern markets and countries such as Niger, which are also departure points for the trans-saharan migration routes. The fee for pushing a car out of the water is €20, the equivalent of almost half a month’s average wage. Sometimes the water level is so high that the only way to reach the opposite bank is to cross the bridge on foot and catch another lift on the other side of the ford. Burkina Faso, Seno Oudalan province. The Gorom-Gorom road is subject to flooding during the rains and it is impossible to cross some of the bridges with the engine switched on because of the risk of damage from excessive water. The local population gathers near these bridges to help push cars and trucks across to reach the more northern markets and countries such as Niger, which are also departure points for the trans-saharan migration routes. The fee for pushing a car out of the water is €20, the equivalent of almost half a month’s average wage. Sometimes the water level is so high that the only way to reach the opposite bank is to cross the bridge on foot and catch another lift on the other side of the ford. Burkina Faso, Houet-Comoe. For long stretches between Bobo Diulasso and Banfora the rails are dug into the rock. Burkina Faso, Banfora. The train from the Ivory Coast during its stop at Banfora station. The Abidjan - Ouagadougou line was built by the French during the colonial period and used principally for transporting goods from the inlands to the coast. Today it is mostly used by migrants at the beginning of their journey along the trans Saharan route towards Libya and Europe. At each stop, the train is literally surrounded by traders selling water, fruit, fritters and anything else that passengers may need on the 40- hour trip to Ouagadougou. Bargaining is carried out directly from the train windows. Niger, Maradi. On the road from Nigeria. Passengers on an onion truck. Niger, Niamey. The banks of the River Niger. On Sundays many city dwellers escape from the city heat to the river banks. J.P. is a Burkinabe who interrupted his journey to Europe in Niamey. Now he earns his living by washing cars on the river bank. For lots of “aventuriers” it is inconceivable to return home empty- handed, so they will accept any type of work just to earn a little money. Niger, Niamey. The Petit Marché is open until after sunset and nearby Ave du Gountou Yena is busy with people carrying their purchases. Some migrants buy the wherewithal for their journey here, where prices are lower than in Agadez. Most of those who pass through Niamey come from the western African states, especially Mali, Burkina, the Ivory Coast, Guinea, Ghana. Travellers from the southern states of Nigeria, Cameroun and Congo go via Birni N’Konni and Zinder, from where they make their way to Agadez either by regular coach or by any means they can find. At the moment about half of all the migrants crossing Niger come from Nigeria, in particular from the central and southern parts of the country where poverty, backwardness, corruption and exploitation of the petrol fields create the conditions which contribute to the surge in migratory flows towards Europe.