A four-year-old girl who was separated from her parents when they tried to board an immigrant ship from Tunisia to Italy, had to make the journey alone.
According to the "Guardian" report, the girl, whom the Italian authorities call "Linda", arrived on the island of Lampedusa on October 17, after 26 hours at sea on a loaded wooden ship, which was carrying 70 asylum seekers from Tunisia.
The authorities in Tunisia are trying to reunite her with her parents, who are accused of abandoning a minor and are forbidden to leave the country.
"Linda is doing well, she is in a community center for children in Palermo, after being transferred from Lampedusa to the province of Agrigento in Sicily, said Majdi Karbai, one of three Tunisian members of parliament who represent Tunisians living in Italy. "She is constantly asking for her parents and asking when she can see them again," he added.
"Her parents are in Tunisia, and the country's authorities imposed a travel ban on them on October 26. They want to return Linda, but the processes are not simple when it comes to a girl who is now under the legal protection of a local guardian," he said.
According to him, Linda is suffering from shock and does not understand what happened.
Save the Children provides support to Linda.
"She plays with the other children, and a psychological support team helps her deal with her fears," said Giovanna De Bendetto, the organization's spokeswoman.
The immigrant ship arrives in Lampedusa (photo: official website, Twitter)
twittertwittertwitter
The illegal immigrant ships do not dock at the beach, so passengers must walk or swim to reach them.
On October 16, as her father held her in his arms, Linda's mother began to scream.
She went into the water while carrying some bags and Linda's sister, and was afraid of drowning before reaching the ship.
"At one point, Linda's father turned back to assist the rest of the family and put Linda on the ship in the process," Carbay said.
"The boat driver suddenly saw the headlights of a truck approaching the shore and thought it was the police. He started the engine and set off. Linda's family was left behind."
Linda's parents refuse to talk to the media.
They are accused of abandoning a minor, and there is a possibility that an indictment for human trafficking will be added to this.
They were released from prison after it was reported that Linda had arrived in Lampedusa.
About 20,000 people have died or disappeared in the central Mediterranean region since then
More in Walla!
Mickey Berkowitz: "When I look at the identity card I laugh"
In collaboration with Danone Strauss
news
world news
Europe
Tags
Italy
Tunisia
immigrants
refuge seekers