Clandestini
Lampedusa - 2004


This holiday destination of golden sand beaches has become the mecca of asylum seekers. The tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, is a 12 square mile strip of land closer to the African nation of Tunisia than to the Italian island of Sicily. And the island of Lampedusa is overwhelmed by "clandestini" as the illegal immigrants are called in Italy. Coming from all over Africa, they are packed into run-down fishing boats and try their luck at crossing the 70 mile voyage between Italy and Africa.

In August 2004, Francesco Zizola was in Lampedusa with the Italian Coast Guard as they patrolled the waters off the island, during the busiest landing season of the year.

This reportage has been the recipient of the Hansel-Mieth Prize 2005 in Germany.