Cyclists travel the Balkan route by bike to document the plight of migrants

Five of them cycled, from 10 to 19 August, for 600 km, along the Balkan route, the route traveled by thousands of migrants heading towards Italy and Europe.

They left Trieste with their first stop in Tuzla (Bosnia) and returned to Trieste after reaching various locations along the so-called 'Balkan route' to document the drama of many migrants trying to enter the European Union.

"We chose the same path that many take to try to get to Italy and Europe, focusing attention on a situation that is often treated incorrectly", explains Fabio Dal Pan, who took part in the project by bike. "We met many associations that deal with hospitality, collecting voices and expressed needs." Among the aspects that most struck the group, during a trip called Re(mi)gratia, "are the words of those who say that today's discrimination and hatred towards migrants are the same ones that emerged during the war in the Balkans, the same mechanism of dehumanization. It is serious and makes us understand even more - says Dal Pan - that when we fight for the rights of migrants we also fight for our own rights, because a democratic government works when it takes care of the least".

Finally, the reflection that Dal Pan also recently entrusted to a story published on the web: "We crossed that border by pedaling, with disarming simplicity, overtaking the cars in the queue. We had an identity card more powerful than many passports, we knew where we were going and we could stop whenever we wanted. Italians, rich, white and well-liked. For those who travel the same road without the right to move freely, a border means rejections, violence, months of waiting, repeated attempts in a limbo sometimes lasting years".

"The intent is to return on the same road next year - he announces - in a caravan, and also bring aid along the way".