Eritrea: Freedom Friday Remembering Lampedusa Disaster

‘As we mark the first anniversary since the Lampedusa Migrant Boat Disaster that claimed the lives of 367 Eritreans and blighted many families across Eritrea and in the diaspora, we call on our people to note that exile is no longer a viable solution to the brutal dictatorship that is devastating Eritrea and jeopardizing its long term viability as a  vibrant independent nation’,  Coordinators of the Arbi Harnet (Freedom Friday) Project  warned  today as they marked the tragic first anniversary since a disaster that claimed hundreds of  people fleeing persecution in Eritrea.

The project coordinated by members of the Eritrean diaspora emphasized that, despite the shock and sadness at the time, nothing much has been done either at the source of the outflow inside Eritrea or ensuring refugees are adequately protected on the passage to safety and protection.  Over 2,000 people mainly from Syria and Eritrea are said to have perished in the sea, in similar circumstances to the disaster that grabbed headlines last year.

Coordinators of Arbi Harnet indicate that currently Eritrean refugees account for both the highest numbers of arrivals to Europe, at around 24,000 migrants in 2014 alone,

According to coordinators of the movement, the numbers are extremely worrying, they say   ‘Syrians are fleeing a devastating conflict that has engulfed the region and the whole world, whereas Eritreans are fleeing in larger masses from a little talked about situation. And when you see this in the context of the fact that Eritrea is a tiny country with a small population the daunting prospects become apparent’

Arbi Harnet is, thus calling on all Eritrean civil and political organisations to make curbing the mass exodus a central element of their strategy in fighting for democracy and justice in Eritrea.

‘Our activists inside the country will be expanding their campaign of writing anti exodus messages on currency notes, from the diaspora we will be sending thousands of phone messages to people inside the country,  as well as collaborating with two opposition radios; Radio Erena and Forum for Change, really honing the message that mass exile isn't a solution for Eritrea’.

End

Notes

Freedom Friday is a movement aimed at encouraging resistance to dictatorship inside Eritrea by developing innovative projects that encourage collective actions of defiance and linking these with the resistance in the diaspora.

For further information please contact the project on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or talk to the coordinator Selam kidane on +447931 554136