Lampedusa survivors’ grief is beyond description

Lampedusa  survivors’ grief is beyond description

(Lampedusa 14-10-2013) Survivors of last week’s shipwreck, that claimed the lived of 359 Eritreans,  off the cost of Lampedusa are finding it really difficult to cope with their experiences, and their grief is proving too overwhelming for those trying to offer support to them.

A volunteer from the human rights charity, Release Eritrea, at the Island disclosed that the survivors and the families of the victims in the Island are grieving ever so bitterly and their grief is worsened by the uncertainties over the funeral arrangements.

Pastor Daniel Habte, who now resides in the UK, but made a similar journey when he first arrived in Europe, is in the Island to offer his support to survivors and members of victims’ families. Having arrived in the early hours of Monday morning the minister has had an opportunity to meet with the Mayor of Lampedusa and spent the rest of the day with the survivors. Describing the day as one of the toughest he has ever experienced Pastor Daniel said:  ‘ we all know how tough it has been and I prepared myself to face a lot of grief and anguish however  things are worse than how we envisaged them from  a distance. There is a lot of grief and bitter resentment and this is made worse by the confusion over what is to happen to the remains of the victims. People are certainly a long way away from healing, please pray for them and pray for us as we try to reach out to them’

Release Eritrea calls on the Italian authorities to resolve the confusion over the funeral arrangements as soon as possible as this is an important step in starting the process of gradual closure for all involved.

End

Release Eritrea is a human rights charity registered in the UK

For further information please contact John Alula on: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}