TENS OF THOUSANDS of migrants try to cross the border into Europe each year.
As this number continues to increase – due in part to conflicts in Africa and Syria – so does the amount of money Europe spends on fortifying its frontiers.
Since 2000, more than 27,000 refugees have died while attempting this perilous journey. In a new four-part series – Europe or Die – VICE News explores how and why this is the case.
The three most common routes used by migrants trying to cross the border are in the western, central and eastern Mediterranean.
The first part of the series, released today, explores how people use the western route to cross from Morocco into Spain – the only European country that has land border crossings with Africa.
People attempt to cross the border in three ways: climbing a six meter fence covered in razor wire and cameras; hiding in cars or on boats; and swimming.
When security guards spot a suspicious looking car attempting to cross the border, they ask the driver to step out while they place ECG stickers on the vehicle to detect heartbeats.
During the programme, VICE reporter Milène Larsson visits a hospital treating migrants who have been injured while trying to cross the border.
Many are bleeding and have several injuries such as broken bones. Some are unconscious.
When she and the crew bring the patients food and water, a doctor purportedly tells her: “They don’t deserve it, they’re a pain in the ass.”
In February 2014, 12 migrants died attempting to swim into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta after the Spanish Civil Guard shot rubber bullets at them.
Ten of thousands of West Africans attempt to illegally cross into Europe each year, in search of a better life.
All images: Screengrabs/VICE.com
In the programme, Larsson meets some of those who have successfully made it. She spoke to one man who was a professional basketball player and political graduate in Cameroon.
Nelly now lives in Ceti migrant centre, hoping to one day make it to mainland Spain. He told her that a lot of migrants are intellectuals who are “promised nothing” in their homelands.
He’s happy to have made it to Europe but said he would not recommend his friends follow his path, although many have.
“It’s all down to luck. I’ve seen people die in the desert,” he said.
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