BBC News Europe
6 October 2013 Last updated at 07:19 ET
Lampedusa boat disaster: Migrant tells of ordeal
More than 350 people are said to have died when a boat of African migrants sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa last Thursday. Futsum Mesfa, from Eritrea, is one of the lucky survivors. He tells the BBC of the ordeal.
On the rocks of Lampedusa island, Futsum and Berihu are looking at the sea.
Both are from Eritrea and 20 years old. Futsum says that after arriving in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, he was driven in a car for two hours and arrived on a beach where a large group gathered before setting off for Lampedusa.
They were first told that they were heading to Sicily but later, during the journey, the skipper told them that plan had changed.
“The boat completely stopped when we got close to the island, it wouldn’t move anymore.
“The skipper decided we needed to attract attention so we could get rescued. He set fire to a blanket, but his hand caught fire and he threw the burning blanket away towards people who were sitting there.
“People started screaming and everybody ran towards other side of the boat.
The boat lost its balance and capsized. I also panicked with the others, I didn’t want to get burned and I jumped into the water.
“For a short moment the boat floated – it was upside down but didn’t sink immediately, so I got on top of it.
“Then after five minutes the boat disappeared under the water and I started swimming.
“We could see the lights of Lampedusa in the dark and swam towards the lights.
“After swimming for a long time – probably around three hours – boats started to arrive to rescue us. Rescue boats, small boats, all the boats in the area came to save us, they dragged us out of the water.
“I lost my cousin, who was on the boat with me, I also lost many friends, I had spent a lot of time with many of the guys there so I consider them all my family.”
The mad dog Isayas is responsible for all these crime we should focus on him!
Our target should be the killer ድያብሎስ!ISAYAS!
As long as ድያብሎስ!Isayas and HIGDEF are in Eritrea misery and death will continue.
The only solution is to get rid of crazy mad dog ድያብሎስ! Isayas wedi Medhin Berad, his son, and his blind followers HIGDEF just like the Libyans did to Gadafi, his sons and his followers.
Eritreans should unite and get rid the tyrant mad dog ድያብሎስ! ISAYAS, his SON and his blind followers the HIGDEF.
From now we all Eritreans who oppose this brutal dictator have to make a very critical decision. Stop any kind of connection with higdef and their sympathizers no matter who the person is your wife, children , sister , husband mother or father. We can’t just deny everything and live as normal with the killers of our people. If you don’t have a reason to die then you do not have reason to live. What should happened in order we take decision in our life. The higdef already told us your sorrow, your death , your suffer is not ours. They danced in Germany in Saudi Arabia and now preparing to dance in Atlanta when the European cry and mourn with us. Please my people take decision and send all the higdef to hell and live a worth life.
Dear Eritrean
To all Eritreans time to act, everywhere in the world Eritreans should not participate or take part in any events organised by PFDJ,supporters or any one associated with the organisation PFDJ. We have lost our beloved brothers and sisters. PFDJ and supporets were dancing and celebrating during the weekend, this is not the culture or tradition of Eritreans. We may have a different political believe or stand, but when innocent Eritreans dying and the world press is shocked by the events and specially the Italian government announced a national mourning day The news from the Eritrean national TV was that immigrants from East Africa had died, (WHY). ‘They are Eritreans’ no one can deny and dispute their nationality. Solidarity is the engine of unity therefore we should collectively reject PFDJ and should not participate in any events. I also call urgent action to be taken by all Eritreans to demonstrated and rally against the PFDJ everywhere in the world for the memory of our brothers and sisters who lost their precious lives in the Mediterranean sea.
It is an irony to ask for regime determined to eradicate Eritrean people and culture from the face of the earth, now to think that it will have a change of heart for Eritreans after we died. Listen the regime has no respect for Eritreans weather we are alive or dead. Why would you want to return the bodies of Eritreans to DIA when we are fleeing from him? Do you want them to have the same fate as many of the our citizens (executed by DIA regime) who are buried purposely on shallow ground and on the flood path so that their remains will be lost. It is true but unfortunate that the bodies of Eritreans gets more respect in the western nations than we get from DIA regime when we are alive. So let them rest in peace in Europe where they lost their lives dreaming to see what is like to be free and respected as human being. So I don’t think their souls will have peace at all if the bodies are returned to DIA regime because we will never know what the regime will do with it. There is also a chance that the DIA regime may not give it to their families.
It is an irony to ask for regime who is determined to eradicate Eritrean people and culture from the face of the earth, now to think that it will have a change of heart for Eritreans after we died. Listen the regime has no respect for Eritreans weather we are alive or dead. Why would we want to return the bodies of Eritreans to DIA when we are fleeing from him? Do you want them to have the same fate as many of the our citizens (executed by DIA regime) who are buried purposely on shallow ground and on the flood path so that their remains will be lost. It is true but unfortunate that the bodies of Eritreans gets more respect in the western nations than we get from DIA regime when we are alive. So let them rest in peace in Europe where they lost their lives dreaming to see what is like to be free and respected as human being. So I don’t think their souls will have peace at all if the bodies are returned to DIA regime because we will never know what the regime will do with it. There is also a chance that the DIA regime may not give it to their families.
poor yang eritreans murdered by crimnal self ellected fascist essayas his maffia groups what can you do.solution is to fight thise thags rrclaim your rights .michae tedla usa
Tuka October 6, 2013
BBC News Europe
6 October 2013 Last updated at 07:19 ET
Lampedusa boat disaster: Migrant tells of ordeal
More than 350 people are said to have died when a boat of African migrants sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa last Thursday. Futsum Mesfa, from Eritrea, is one of the lucky survivors. He tells the BBC of the ordeal.
On the rocks of Lampedusa island, Futsum and Berihu are looking at the sea.
Both are from Eritrea and 20 years old. Futsum says that after arriving in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, he was driven in a car for two hours and arrived on a beach where a large group gathered before setting off for Lampedusa.
They were first told that they were heading to Sicily but later, during the journey, the skipper told them that plan had changed.
“The boat completely stopped when we got close to the island, it wouldn’t move anymore.
“The skipper decided we needed to attract attention so we could get rescued. He set fire to a blanket, but his hand caught fire and he threw the burning blanket away towards people who were sitting there.
“People started screaming and everybody ran towards other side of the boat.
The boat lost its balance and capsized. I also panicked with the others, I didn’t want to get burned and I jumped into the water.
“For a short moment the boat floated – it was upside down but didn’t sink immediately, so I got on top of it.
“Then after five minutes the boat disappeared under the water and I started swimming.
“We could see the lights of Lampedusa in the dark and swam towards the lights.
“After swimming for a long time – probably around three hours – boats started to arrive to rescue us. Rescue boats, small boats, all the boats in the area came to save us, they dragged us out of the water.
“I lost my cousin, who was on the boat with me, I also lost many friends, I had spent a lot of time with many of the guys there so I consider them all my family.”
BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24419733?print=true
————————
Zengi Mussie October 6, 2013
http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/videogallery/italia/2013/10/06/funerali-111-migranti-strazio-superstiti_9419646.html
Semhar October 6, 2013
The mad dog Isayas is responsible for all these crime we should focus on him!
Our target should be the killer ድያብሎስ!ISAYAS!
As long as ድያብሎስ!Isayas and HIGDEF are in Eritrea misery and death will continue.
The only solution is to get rid of crazy mad dog ድያብሎስ! Isayas wedi Medhin Berad, his son, and his blind followers HIGDEF just like the Libyans did to Gadafi, his sons and his followers.
Eritreans should unite and get rid the tyrant mad dog ድያብሎስ! ISAYAS, his SON and his blind followers the HIGDEF.
simerrr2012 October 7, 2013
From now we all Eritreans who oppose this brutal dictator have to make a very critical decision. Stop any kind of connection with higdef and their sympathizers no matter who the person is your wife, children , sister , husband mother or father. We can’t just deny everything and live as normal with the killers of our people. If you don’t have a reason to die then you do not have reason to live. What should happened in order we take decision in our life. The higdef already told us your sorrow, your death , your suffer is not ours. They danced in Germany in Saudi Arabia and now preparing to dance in Atlanta when the European cry and mourn with us. Please my people take decision and send all the higdef to hell and live a worth life.
amanuel October 7, 2013
Dear Eritrean
To all Eritreans time to act, everywhere in the world Eritreans should not participate or take part in any events organised by PFDJ,supporters or any one associated with the organisation PFDJ. We have lost our beloved brothers and sisters. PFDJ and supporets were dancing and celebrating during the weekend, this is not the culture or tradition of Eritreans. We may have a different political believe or stand, but when innocent Eritreans dying and the world press is shocked by the events and specially the Italian government announced a national mourning day The news from the Eritrean national TV was that immigrants from East Africa had died, (WHY). ‘They are Eritreans’ no one can deny and dispute their nationality. Solidarity is the engine of unity therefore we should collectively reject PFDJ and should not participate in any events. I also call urgent action to be taken by all Eritreans to demonstrated and rally against the PFDJ everywhere in the world for the memory of our brothers and sisters who lost their precious lives in the Mediterranean sea.
Fresewra October 7, 2013
It is an irony to ask for regime determined to eradicate Eritrean people and culture from the face of the earth, now to think that it will have a change of heart for Eritreans after we died. Listen the regime has no respect for Eritreans weather we are alive or dead. Why would you want to return the bodies of Eritreans to DIA when we are fleeing from him? Do you want them to have the same fate as many of the our citizens (executed by DIA regime) who are buried purposely on shallow ground and on the flood path so that their remains will be lost. It is true but unfortunate that the bodies of Eritreans gets more respect in the western nations than we get from DIA regime when we are alive. So let them rest in peace in Europe where they lost their lives dreaming to see what is like to be free and respected as human being. So I don’t think their souls will have peace at all if the bodies are returned to DIA regime because we will never know what the regime will do with it. There is also a chance that the DIA regime may not give it to their families.
Fresewra October 7, 2013
It is an irony to ask for regime who is determined to eradicate Eritrean people and culture from the face of the earth, now to think that it will have a change of heart for Eritreans after we died. Listen the regime has no respect for Eritreans weather we are alive or dead. Why would we want to return the bodies of Eritreans to DIA when we are fleeing from him? Do you want them to have the same fate as many of the our citizens (executed by DIA regime) who are buried purposely on shallow ground and on the flood path so that their remains will be lost. It is true but unfortunate that the bodies of Eritreans gets more respect in the western nations than we get from DIA regime when we are alive. So let them rest in peace in Europe where they lost their lives dreaming to see what is like to be free and respected as human being. So I don’t think their souls will have peace at all if the bodies are returned to DIA regime because we will never know what the regime will do with it. There is also a chance that the DIA regime may not give it to their families.
michael tedla October 9, 2013
poor yang eritreans murdered by crimnal self ellected fascist essayas his maffia groups what can you do.solution is to fight thise thags rrclaim your rights .michae tedla usa