On April 22, the Life Support vessel, operated by the NGO Emergency, arrived at the port of Ravenna with 82 people on board. They had been rescued in the central Mediterranean, within Libya’s SAR zone, on April 17. Among the passengers were 11 women -- one of whom was six months pregnant -- two girls, and 23 unaccompanied migrant minors, as well as a young boy and girl traveling with an adult. The migrants were from Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo.

'What I experienced in Libya is worse than war'

One of the unaccompanied minors, who is from Ethiopia, spoke about his experience with Emergency's staff:

"I arrived in Libya in 2023. I was immediately jailed there for nine months, my family had to pay 10,000 dollars to get me out. After my release, traffickers took me to Tripoli, where I was arrested again and taken to the prison of Oussama. To let me out, they wanted another 10,000 dollars."

The teen said there was "no life in that prison. People die there, there are no clothes, no food, no water. You get hit, you die. You can get out only if you pay."

The teen explained that he fled to Sudan from Ethiopia but found war there too.

"I never thought about coming to Europe, but I found violence wherever I went. However, what I experienced in Libya was worse than war. Now that I am finally safe, I feel born a second time and I only ask for one thing: speak about those who are in prison in Libya -- people who live in inhuman conditions and have no voice. You can make their voices heard," he told the NGO's volunteers.

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Life Support's fifth disembarkation in Ravenna since 2023

Emilia-Romagna Governor Michele De Pascale commented on the migrants' arrival at the port of Ravenna by expressing "deep gratitude to all those who are contributing with commitment, professionalism and dedication to guaranteeing an effective and, especially, a human hosting experience."

"Thanks to all the institutions involved, security forces, healthcare professionals, the Italian Red Cross, and all volunteer organizations who are once again showing a great civic duty and welcoming spirit that have always characterized Emilia-Romagna," he added.

Ravenna Prefect Raffaele Ricciardi, who coordinated the arrival of Emergency's ship, also said that, "as has always been the case until now, the organization was efficient and prompt, and it was possible to quickly set up" a hosting spot at the port, as occurred during previous landings.

"It was the Life Support's fifth disembarkation. The first occurred on September 25, 2023, and in total, with today's landing, 1,829 migrants have reached the port of Ravenna," he recalled.

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