Dilba, 30 years old, from Syria
I have photographs of my husband, my children, my siblings, my best friends, etc. The one that is the most precious to me is the one of my father, who passed away. I carry all these photographs with me to keep the memories alive. With the war in Syria, everyone went to a different place. Some of my friends went to Norway, others to the Netherlands, some stayed in Damascus, I went to Kobanî. I had to quit university, leave my neighborhood, my friends, the place I grew up in. The war dispersed us and even though I haven’t seen them for years, with the photographs, their memories stay.
Dilba was rescued by MSF on 5th of February 2024 while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea on an overcrowded wooden boat in distress with about 130 other people. Dilba was rescued by MSF on 5th of February 2024 while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea on an overcrowded wooden boat in distress with about 130 other people. © MSF/Mohamad Cheblak
Zeyad, 24 years old, from Egypt
Scorpion, for me, has a special character. He is unique, like a lion or an eagle. The person who gave me this ring is also unique and special to me. The ring gave me a lot of hope. Not luck, but hope and strength when I was hopeless, when all the doors were shut. I will never leave this ring, even if I get married, I will put the wedding ring on another finger.
Zeyad was rescued by MSF on 1st of May 2024 from a wooden boat in distress that departed from the Libyan shores. He left Egypt two years ago and this was his second time to try to cross the Central Mediterranean. © MSF/Mohamad Cheblak
Khadijah, 35 years old, born in Morocco but used to live in Libya
The bags are precious for me, they contain various traditional herbs and plants (lavender, celery, clove, cress) that were prepared by my grandmother. We use them in Morocco to treat the hair and skin, and some of them to help the digestion. I have nothing left that would connect me to my family, especially my grandmother, except this. When we were on the boat, I didn’t care about losing my documents, but I didn’t want to lose the bags.
Khadijah used to work as a waitress in Libya. She lost her first husband and parents in a bombing in Libya. After this and several other violent incidents, she finally decided to leave the country. Khadija, her second husband and their daughters tried to cross the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in July 2023, but they were intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard and imprisoned in a detention centre. Khadijah’s family was rescued by MSF on the 30th of November 2023 from a fiberglass boat in distress.
Hamid, 27 years old, from Pakistan
Hamid is from the Punjab region, in Pakistan. He left his country in 2022, travelling first to Dubai, then Egypt and Libya. In Libya, he was working in a gas station before he attempted the sea crossing. Hamid was rescued by MSF, along with over 50 other people, on the 17th of November 2023 from a wooden boat in distress. © MSF/Mohamad Cheblak
The ring and necklace I have with me are gifts from my two brothers. Having them with me makes me feel connected to my family wherever I am. When I put them on, I feel I am talking to my brothers, as if I could see them. During my stay in Libya, I didn’t wear the ring or necklace because I know they will be stripped away from me. But when I arrived on Geo Barents, the first thing I did was to put them on because here, it’s a trustworthy place.
