13. Lost and dead at the borders ■ Still Missing: B.A.Z. / Afghanistan, male (1970): he was carrying a black bag with yellow pockets with the clothes of his children. He was wearing a dark red shirt with yellow stripes, grey trousers, brown shoes with no bootlaces and two rings – one blue. On his hand a silver watch with a golden frame. In his pocket he was carrying the Koran and a pen. »A better healing will come when I find out what happened!« J.K., from Keyna257 »I’ve been in Greece since 2008. I arrived in April. I came from Kenya. I had to leave my country, as it wasn’t a safe place anymore. It was an escape to a safer and more peaceful place. I always thought of Greece as a peaceful place. [….] So that’s how I picked Greece. I thought Greeks were quite peaceful. I left my wife back in Kenya with our four children. The youngest is now 13 years old, the oldest 30. My wife is 46 years old. I wanted to find a place other than my home country, because of political reasons, and then reunite with my family. When I came here, I realized it was pretty difficult to legally stay in Greece. Getting political asylum here in Greece seems almost impossible. I realized it’s a dream that will never come true. But there’s always hope. Hope for another place, where me and my family can stay. Because it’s our family’s intention to stay together. The family should be accessible. In Africa, in Europe, in Canada, in the United States. The distance doesn’t really matter. What matters is that the family can be accessible. Can you see your family whenever you want? Can they see you whenever they wish? Can they come and see you, when you are sick in hospital? This is why it’s good to have open borders! Free movement! One thing that surprises me is that there’s a free market, free movement of goods and services, but there’s no free movement for human beings. There should not be any danger in moving freely from one country to another. 257 Interview by Infomobile in Athens; May 11, 2011 91 S.M.Q. / Afghanistan, male (1983): he was wearing a striped beige and pink shirt, blue jeans and trainers. He had short hair and 500 Euros with him. M.A.J. / Afghanistan, male (1951): he was wearing brown trousers, black shoes, glasses, a waterproof watch and a ring with an eagle symbol. I come from Kenya where there is a high percentage of migrants. Many come from the UK. Some are from Greece, Germany, others from other African countries, like Rwanda. When there was the genocide in Rwanda, people escaped and came to Kenya. Uganda, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia also had problems…Kenya has been settling these people without problems. One should not stop people from moving to other countries, particularly when it poses dangers that are life threatening and even causes deaths. You look for a safe place and you die for that peace. This is very sad. In September 2010, my wife was supposed to come to Greece from Turkey. The aim was to have my wife next to me and then we wanted to see how the kids could join us. But unfortunately it didn’t work. She disappeared on her way to Greece. Today, there are no clues as to what might have happened to her. But there is still hope, maybe one day she will come. But now there’s a lot of darkness. It’s dark, because there’s no sign of life, no anything. No signs. Last time we talked on the phone, she was on her way to Greece. That was it. Now I’m waiting. It’s been 10 months since then, without knowing what’s happened. It’s so long. When I started it, I never considered the risks. Now I know it’s quite dangerous and an indication that she might not be there after all. [….]. Making a memorial for the deaths in Evros would be something very respectful for that lady, whom we loved so much and we say: we meet again! Because life goes on and because there’s a lot of work that must be finished, that we started together. Raising our children, it’s quite a job to have four children and get them on track. So, I might say I’m single hearted now, but I have still to move on for the sake of my children’s lives. So, I would say that the intention would be to create/ live a kind of new life. And I have to learn how to live this life and move one. It’s not easy, but I believe there’s a way.