(ANSA) - PALERMO, It was called "the day of memory and welcome". It is celebrated every year to remember that October 3, 2013 when 368 people died at sea in a shipwreck off Lampedusa. From today until October 3, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the massacre, the "Three October" committee returns to the Pelagie to commemorate "all migrants who died trying to reach Europe, but above all to raise awareness of civil society and institutions on themes related to migration ". The initiative, promoted with the support of the Municipality of Lampedusa and Linosa and Rai-Radiotelevisione Italiana, with the contribution of the national association victims of civil war, and funded by the UN agency for refugees, will bring together students, teachers, refugees , associations and organizations involved in the defense of human rights. The first day opens with the reception of students and teachers from all over Italy and with a visit to the "Museum of trust and dialogue for the Mediterranean".
Lampedusa, three days of initiatives to remember the massacre at sea five years ago
Flowers at sea for the victims of the Lampedusa shipwreck
On 3 October 2013, 368 migrants died in the shipwreck off the island. Meetings with the students, on Wednesday the march towards the "Gate of Europe".
t was called "the day of memory and welcome". It is celebrated every year to remember that October 3, 2013, when 368 people died at sea in a shipwreck off Lampedusa. From today until October 3, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the massacre, the "Three October" committee returns to the Pelagie to commemorate "all migrants who died trying to reach Europe, but above all to raise awareness of civil society and institutions on themes related to migration ". The initiative, promoted with the support of the Municipality of Lampedusa and RAI, with the contribution of the National Civilian Victims of War, and financed by the UN agency for refugees, will bring together students, teachers, refugees,
The first day opens with the reception of students and teachers from all over Italy and with a visit to the "Museum of trust and dialogue for the Mediterranean". Tomorrow the students will go to Luigi Pirandello's comprehensive institute, for a day of workshops dedicated to exchange and mutual knowledge. In the foreground also the life stories told by refugees and migrants who survived the shipwreck . A round table will follow, attended by the Mayor of Lampedusa, Salvatore Martello, and several experts in the sector. The day will conclude with a concert by the Italian-French artist Sandro Joyeux.
On 3 October the march towards the Gate of Europe will take place, accompanied by a moment of recollection and a commemoration ceremony at sea. "Three days of information, awareness, meeting and discussion to reflect together on an ever-present issue, often subject to exploitation and propaganda simplification - say the promoters - Despite the drastic reduction of landings on the Italian coast in recent months after agreements with the Guard Libyan coast, from January to today more than 1,700 people have died in the Mediterranean Sea (source: Oim) ".
From Lampedusa to Sweden, Solomon: "I lost so many friends, but here I am free"
Travel to Solomon's house and "his" bus. Five years ago he landed in Lampedusa, rescued by a fisherman after the shipwreck of 3 October 2013. Twenty-seven years, Eritrean, today he has an appartemanto and a job in Avesta, 15 thousand inhabitants. The system tells him: three days for identification, footprints and interview of the commission. Then 15 thousand euros on loan for furniture, the language course and the professional one. And he found what all migrants want: "Having a normal life, like you," he explains.