Thirty-five thousand. That’s how many people, as of fall 2018, have died in the Mediterranean trying to enter the European Union since 2000. 35,000 people – at least. Because of the high number of missing persons, the actual number of those killed can only be estimated. Due to the structurally racist, European border regime, there are no non-illegalized travel options to the EU for many people – the Mediterranean as a mass grave.
Nevertheless and therefore: “People, not numbers” – with these three words the activists of “Missing at the Borders” name their central demand on political and civil society institutions as well as their own way of working. Giving a voice to the bereaved, who often have to live the rest of their lives in ignorance about the whereabouts of their loved ones. To stand up for those whose dignity as human beings is challenged and disregarded on a daily basis by racist regimes, structures and individuals.
On its quadrilingual website (English, Spanish, French, Italian), the network tells the stories of some of the people who have disappeared in the Mediterranean, showing photos of the missing and their relatives. The geographic focus is on Algeria and Tunisia.
A list of the initiatives involved can be found here, and we have already presented the work of the Watch the Med and Alarm Phone groups involved elsewhere.