3.2. Readmissions of arrivals at “unofficial border points” in Calabria and Lecce Boat people fleeing from their countries of origin undertake very risky trips over the sea on small boats or other maritime transportation means. Coming from Greece, they hope to finally reach a safe haven after arriving at the southern shores of Italy, in Lecce and Calabria. There are numerous and frequent reports of people who loose their life during their effort to cross this EU-border. Many others manage to arrive, but then are collectively and indiscriminately readmitted back to Greece. A. (16), from Afghanistan64: Rocella Jonica, Calabria “We arrived on February 20, 2012 with a boat in Italy. The boat stopped in the middle of the sea, at a visible distance from the coast. We had to jump into the cold sea and swim to shore. We were all wet when we arrived. We started walking in order to find the police. It was very cold. When the police arrived they took me and some other minors to a special facility for the minors. A lawyer was appointed as my guardian. I don’t know what happened to the others though. I never saw them again. They were immediately taken to a different place. I guess they were deported back to Greece. Only two of us stayed in Italy.” Often those confined are detained in school’s gyms A., from Afghanistan65: Siderno, Calabria / Bari or in other provisional places, before being sent Patra back to Greece - a country from where they just escaped to save their lives. Y. and M., from Syria63: Roccella Jonica, Calabria / Bari - Patra A. worked in Afghanistan for the Army, collaborating with the British ISAF Forces. Following his traumatic experience and subsequent his readmission from Bari, he was so disappointed and told us that he contemplates taking a risk and return back to Afghanistan. He had managed to leave from Greece with an inflatable boat on April 24, 2012. Y. and M. are two brothers from Syria. They arrived with a boat in the Italian coast of Rocella Jonica on September 3, 2011. Their family (mother and siblings) is legally residing in Italy for almost 10 “We were 43 persons on that boat. 38 Afghans and years. 5 Banglas. The journey was very difficult. The boat jumped up and down in the waves forcefully and The two youngest boys were the last ones left we were twisted around from these abrupt moves. behind in Syria, living with their grand mother. Some did not make it through the journey. One of Both of them were arrested, imprisoned and one us died after four hours in the sea while another of the boys - as his mother told us - was tortured by one died few hours later probably because his spine the Syrian authorities. broke too. When the boat reached the Calabrese Upon arrival at the Italian coast, the two brothers coasts it was night. It stopped at a distance from along with the other persons in the boat were the shore. We were forced to jump into the water detained in a gym of an elementary school. They and swim to the shore. I was violently pushed into were denied access to a lawyer, an organization the water and thought I would die. I could see the and a phone. Their mother knew they were coming heads of some others appearing now and then to Italy, but eventually she met them when she on the top of the water like small flying fishes. came to Greece after having being informed of Some others helped me. I started swimming and noticed some persons finding it difficult to keep their readmission on September 10, 2011. floating. I tried to carry out a corpse of one of the dead persons. You know, I am not afraid of death. I was in the war. I saw many things before leaving 63 Interview held on September 12, 2011 at GCR 64 65 Interview held on April 4, 2012 in Italy Interview held on June 15, 2012 in Athens 25