Yannis Kontos - Africa to Europe Migration - Premio Luis Valtueña

Captions

Senegalese children play on the coast of Yoff (Dakar), a fishermen's village and popular departure point for immigrants.

1. Senegalese children play on the coast of Yoff (Dakar), a fishermen's village and popular departure point for immigrants.

Senegalese fishing boats - or cayucos as they are called in Spain - have become the preferred method of transport for undocumented migrants trying to reach the Canary Islands. The brightly painted wooden fishing boats are a colorful oddity when they arrive in a harbor of yachts, ferries and trawlers. They are often equipped with two or three 40 horsepower outboard motors. Barrels of fuel are packed beneath the deck, on which the passengers stand huddled together. A boat leaves, jammed with as many as 60 people. Messages of thanks and prayers asking God for a safe passage at sea are written on many of the boats. The immigrants' families back home are said to scan newspapers for pictures of the distinctive boats to see if their loved ones have arrived safely. The 8-to-15-day crossing is very risky - hundreds of migrants are believed to have died at sea. The crossing is the last journey the boats will make.

2. Senegalese fishing boats - or cayucos as they are called in Spain - have become the preferred method of transport for undocumented migrants trying to reach the Canary Islands. The brightly painted wooden fishing boats are a colorful oddity when they arrive in a harbor of yachts, ferries and trawlers. They are often equipped with two or three 40 horsepower outboard motors. Barrels of fuel are packed beneath the deck, on which the passengers stand huddled together. A boat leaves, jammed with as many as 60 people. Messages of thanks and prayers asking God for a safe passage at sea are written on many of the boats. The immigrants' families back home are said to scan newspapers for pictures of the distinctive boats to see if their loved ones have arrived safely. The 8-to-15-day crossing is very risky - hundreds of migrants are believed to have died at sea. The crossing is the last journey the boats will make.

Senegalese immigrants work as fishermen for €1.5 per day in order to collect enough money to make the trip to Europe. Immigrants have to pay human smugglers about €1500, for their sea passage. Nonetheless, this gives them no guarantee, as most of the time they are being deceived. It is estimated that about 15,000 migrants are milling around the Oceanside town of Nouakchott waiting to go to the Canaries, although the sea passage has almost closed following the strict supervision of the local authorities.

3. Senegalese immigrants work as fishermen for €1.5 per day in order to collect enough money to make the trip to Europe. Immigrants have to pay human smugglers about €1500, for their sea passage. Nonetheless, this gives them no guarantee, as most of the time they are being deceived. It is estimated that about 15,000 migrants are milling around the Oceanside town of Nouakchott (Mauritania) waiting to go to the Canaries, although the sea passage has almost closed following the strict supervision of the local authorities.

Sylla, 28, an immigrant from Kongo, has been living for one year in Mauritania with her 3-month-old baby after leaving her country due to a violent situation which left her husband dead. Trying to collect the money to make the trip to Europe, she works as a laborer in houses while she is getting some help from a Nigerian priest who runs a Catholic mission. She pays €18 rent for her makeshift shelter in Nouadhibou (Mauritania).

4. Sylla, 28, an immigrant from Kongo, has been living for one year in Mauritania with her 3-month-old baby after leaving her country due to a violent situation which left her husband dead. Trying to collect the money to make the trip to Europe, she works as a laborer in houses while she is getting some help from a Nigerian priest who runs a Catholic mission. She pays €18 rent for her makeshift shelter in Nouadhibou (Mauritania).

An immigrant from Senegal cooks food in his makeshift shelter in Nouakchott. Mauritania is amongst the different routes utilized by undocumented migrants in their attempt to reach Europe. Living in poor health in substandard accommodation under uncertain status, migrants suffer major shocks and trauma in host countries, a fact that tends to make their psychological health even more fragile.

5. An immigrant from Senegal cooks food in his makeshift shelter in Nouakchott. Mauritania is amongst the different routes utilized by undocumented migrants in their attempt to reach Europe. Living in poor health in substandard accommodation under uncertain status, migrants suffer major shocks and trauma in host countries, a fact that tends to make their psychological health even more fragile.

Immigrants from Guinea work in a smithery in Nouadhibou. Anticipating their trip to Europe, they hope to collect the amount of 1500 euros to pay human smugglers for their sea passage. It is estimated that about 15,000 migrants are milling around the noisy Oceanside town waiting to go to the Canaries, although the sea passage has almost closed following the strict supervision of the local authorities.

6. Immigrants from Guinea work in a smithery in Nouadhibou. Anticipating their trip to Europe, they hope to collect the amount of 1500 euros to pay human smugglers for their sea passage. It is estimated that about 15,000 migrants are milling around the noisy Oceanside town waiting to go to the Canaries, although the sea passage has almost closed following the strict supervision of the local authorities.

Abdullah,33, an immigrant from the Gambia, has already collected the money for his sea passage to Europe. He expects the right time for his departure, as he was arrested in his two former attempts from Morocco. He used to be a construction worker in his country. Furthermore, he has a large family in the Gambia, to which he intends to send money when he arrives in Spain. He feels strong and hopes to manage the crossing. He is said to take only his cigarettes with him. The middlemen who arrange the boat and skipper will take care of all the rest. The boat is supposed to include 26 Senegalese, 1 Nigerian and 5 Gambians.

7. Abdullah,33, an immigrant from the Gambia, has already collected the money for his sea passage to Europe. He expects the right time for his departure, as he was arrested in his two former attempts from Morocco. He used to be a construction worker in his country. Furthermore, he has a large family in the Gambia, to which he intends to send money when he arrives in Spain. He feels strong and hopes to manage the crossing. He is said to take only his cigarettes with him. The middlemen who arrange the boat and skipper will take care of all the rest. The boat is supposed to include 26 Senegalese, 1 Nigerian and 5 Gambians.

Recently arrived undocumented immigrant in a Red Cross rehabilitation center in Spain. Upon their arrival, most of the immigrants have to be hospitalized for several weeks due to hypothermia and dehydration.

8. Recently arrived undocumented immigrant in a Red Cross rehabilitation center in Spain. Upon their arrival, most of the immigrants have to be hospitalized for several weeks due to hypothermia and dehydration.

An undocumented immigrant from Mali hides. Along with other compatriots, they wash a car for 10 euros. Once in Europe, undocumented migrants are more at risk of being exploited, working long hours, living in substandard accommodation, and being in poor health.

9. An undocumented immigrant from Mali hides. Along with other compatriots, they wash a car for 10 euros. Once in Europe, undocumented migrants are more at risk of being exploited, working long hours, living in substandard accommodation, and being in poor health.

Rose, 30, arrived in the Canary Islands with a boat from Nigeria five years ago. She is unemployed, has no documents, and she lives in Astoria apartments, a badly conditioned former hotel which currently hosts dozens of African immigrants in Las Palmas. Rose studies to become a cook.

10. Rose, 30, arrived in the Canary Islands with a boat from Nigeria five years ago. She is unemployed, has no documents, and she lives in Astoria apartments, a badly conditioned former hotel which currently hosts dozens of African immigrants in Las Palmas. Rose studies to become a cook.

Undocumented immigrants from Senegal sell sunglasses in flea markets around Las Palmas. They arrived in Spain with a boat two years ago, and they all share a small apartment. Once in Europe, undocumented migrants are more at risk of being exploited, working long hours, living in substandard accommodation, and being in poor health.

11. Undocumented immigrants from Senegal sell sunglasses in flea markets around Las Palmas. They arrived in Spain with a boat two years ago, and they all share a small apartment. Once in Europe, undocumented migrants are more at risk of being exploited, working long hours, living in substandard accommodation, and being in poor health.

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Work grant edition 2006

Yannis Kontos

Africa to Europe Migration

Presentation

Many reasons lead people to migrate: violent conflicts and wars, natural disasters or social oppression, the desire for family reunification, or poverty. Whether we want it or not, migration is unavoidable because of solid and expansive forces in the economy transcending national borders.

Thousands of Africans try to make the journey to Europe each year as irregular migrants – risking people smugglers, deserts, sea crossings, and the possibility of being sent home, all for the dream of a better life. These photographs document the living conditions and every daily life struggle for survival of those Africans from Mauritania and Senegal who have emigrated to Spain or intend to leave Africa.

The Spanish and the Senegalese authorities increased joint police controls along the Senegalese coast to prevent the immigration of African nationals to the Canary Islands (Spain). Because it’s become more difficult to leave Senegal or Mauritania, those trying to emigrate take more risks while making a longer crossing. Their departure points are moving more and further away to escape the coast guard’s patrols.

The deaths have increased due to makeshift boats sinking. It is striking, however, that planes coming back to the city of Saint Louis transporting those who failed in their attempt are always full. But no barriers can stop the migration of poor people who are driven to leave by hunger and misery.

Biography

Yannis Kontos (Ioannina, Greece, 1971) has gained international recognition for his work in the photojournalism field. As a freelance photographer, he has covered the conflicts in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Sierra Leone, among others, as well as the most important world events. His works have been published in the main international media, and they have received, among others, the 2006 World Press Photo prize and the 2005 Fujifilm European Press Photographer prize.

He holds a Ph.D. degree in Documentary Photography (University of Wales), an MA degree in Photographic Journalism (University of Westminster), and BA degrees in Photography (Athens Technological Educational Institute) and Physical Education and Sports Science (University of Thessaloniki).