Diana Bagnoli

Alpine Route

Every winter, in the mountains that connect Italy to France, migrants are crossing the border up to 2800 meters of altitude, with extremely low temperatures and about six hours walk. The route is characterised by a strong presence of migrants arriving from the Balkans, from Iran and Afghanistan, many of whom are families. Their choice is to cross the Alps to reach northern Europe, given that Italy and France are perceived as unsafe and unwelcoming countries. The daily flow varies from a few units to sixty and thousands of people have transited illegally since 2018 along the Oulx - Briancon axis. I’ve documented the rescue voluntary work of the Italian Red Cross, that every night, saves several groups of people out of the forest where they get lost and risk freezing. Every night the French gendarmerie pushes many of them back to Italy, but their motivation is too strong to stop and their spirit of survival prevails. Not even the risk of frostbite discourage families and the march, looking for a dignified and safe life, goes on. They have been traveling for years, looking for a better life through sacrifices and risks and here they are almost at the end of their journey. Not all of them succeed but the motivation to survive and to overcome those few meters called “border” is so strong that no one can stop them.

Every winter, in the mountains that connect Italy to France, migrants are crossing the border up to 2800 meters of altitude, with extremely low temperatures and about six hours walk. The route is characterised by a strong presence of migrants arriving from the Balkans, from Iran and Afghanistan, many of whom are families. Their choice is to cross the Alps to reach northern Europe, given that Italy and France are perceived as unsafe and unwelcoming countries. The daily flow varies from a few units to sixty and thousands of people have transited illegally since 2018 along the Oulx – Briancon axis. I’ve documented the rescue voluntary work of the Italian Red Cross, that every night, saves several groups of people out of the forest where they get lost and risk freezing. Every night the French gendarmerie pushes many of them back to Italy, but their motivation is too strong to stop and their spirit of survival prevails. Not even the risk of frostbite discourage families and the march, looking for a dignified and safe life, goes on. They have been traveling for years, looking for a better life through sacrifices and risks and here they are almost at the end of their journey. Not all of them succeed but the motivation to survive and to overcome those few meters called “border” is so strong that no one can stop them.

Andrea Mascarino, a volunteer of the Red Cross of Susa, patrols the mountain at night to help any missing or in need migrants.
A thermal blanket left by a migrant on the path to France.
An exhausted Moroccan boy on the Alpine route. After trying to cross the border at night with the blizzard, helped by the Red Cross, he returned to Italy.
Three Moroccan migrants in the blizzard, in the attempt to cross the French border
A volunteer measures the temperature of a group of Moroccan migrants, before returning to the Oulx refuge, after being rescued from the storm. Their goal is to arrive in France and they have been traveling for a year.
A group of boys notify their friends with their smartphones about the outcome of their journey. After trying to cross the Italian-French border at night in the storm they had to turn back, helped by the Italian Red Cross.
An Algerian boy, after trying to cross the Italian-French border on a stormy night
An Algerian boy, after trying to cross the Italian-French border on a stormy night
Andrea Mascarino, a volunteer of the Red Cross of Susa
Between the mountains that join France to Italy, the Alps, there are very few shelters. These footprints from the previous night, after the storm, suggest that someone spent the night here.
Red Cross volunteer scours the mountains to offer his help to any lost people in the storm of the previous night
Red Cross volunteer scours the mountains to offer his help to any lost people in the storm of the previous night
The Red Cross volunteers warn migrants every night about the risks of the mountain and are ready to help them in case of need.
A volunteer of the Red Cross of Susa shows the flyer that every evening they give to migrants leaving Claviere. The totally voluntary work of the Red Cross is part of the MigrAlp project and consists of informing migrants about the risks of the mountains in winter, assisting them with their main needs and contributing to search and rescue operations.
Three Moroccan migrants in the blizzard., close to Claviere. After trying to cross the border at night with the blizzard, helped by the Red Cross, they returned to Italy.
Volunteers of the project MigrAlp taking a break and having dinner during a night of work
Two volunteers of the Red Cross of Susa taking abreak during a cold night of work with the project MigrAlp
Elena, a volunteer in the Oulx refuge, where every evening offers shelter and suitable clothing to dozens of migrants.
Babies' clothes boxes, up to 6 months in the refugee Massi before the italo-french border, Oulx
A little girl born in a Slovenian forest, during an epic journey that lasted almost two years, from Iran to Germany, crossing the Balkans and th Alps.
A little girl born in a Slovenian forest, during an epic journey that lasted almost two years, from Iran to Germany, crossing the Balkans and th Alps.
An African migrant studies the route to get to France in the Oulx refuge, where he finds shelter before resuming his journey.
Don Luigi Chiampo nella cucina del rifugio Massi di Oulx, dove transitano i migranti di passaggio verso il nord Europa
A large Afghan family, traveling for over a year across the Balkan route.
Migrants on the bus, on their way. Alpine Route.
An Afghan family tries to cross the border along the Alpine route, hoping not to be spotted by the French gendarmes.
An Afghan family tries to cross the border along the Alpine route, hoping not to be spotted by the French gendarmes.
An Afghan family looking for a way to cross the border along the Alpine route, hoping not to be spotted by the French gendarmes.
An Afghan mother feeding her baby. They're trying to cross the Italian-French border during the night.
An Afghan mother feeding her baby. They're trying to cross the Italian-French border during the night.
Afghan migrants are looking for the best way to cross the Italian border and arrive in France overnight. They are almost at the end of a two-year journey.
An Afghan family tries to cross the border along the Alpine route, hoping not to be spotted by the French gendarmes.
French gendarmes took and expelled African migrants. The Red Cross offers a shuttle service to take them back to the Oulx refuge, where they will lodge before trying again and until they manage to cross the border.
Cristina Talos, 19 years old. She started at 16 in the Red Cross. She volunteers almost every evening with the MigrAlp project, wich consist to inform migrants about the risks of the mountains in winter and to contribute in the rescue operations.
Abdullah,38 years old, from Algeria. He was rescued by the Red Cross in the middle of the night, after nine hours lost in the snow and then hospitalized for two months in Turin. He now works with the Red Cross of the Val Susa which he defines his guardian angels.
Abdullah,38 years old, from Algeria. He was rescued by the Red Cross in the middle of the night, after nine hours lost in the snow and then hospitalized for two months in Turin. He now works with the Red Cross of the Val Susa which he defines his guardian angels.
Abdullah,38 years old, from Algeria. He was rescued by the Red Cross in the middle of the night, after nine hours lost in the snow and then hospitalized for two months in Turin. He now works with the Red Cross of the Val Susa which he defines his guardian angels.
A stormy night on the Alpine route