A Ghanaian woman living in Italy has shared a harrowing account of her journey from Libya to Europe, warning others against risking their lives through irregular migration routes.
In a viral video, the woman described the dangerous sea crossing and the devastating experiences she witnessed aboard an overcrowded boat.
According to her, about 120 people were packed onto the vessel, but only 70 eventually made it to Europe.
“We were about 120 persons on the boat, but only 70 of us made it to Europe,” she recounted.
She said the journey was particularly heartbreaking because of what happened to a woman travelling with her four children. According to her account, two of the children died before the family reached Europe.
The Ghanaian migrant also said the journey left her with serious health problems after the cramped conditions aboard the boat caused an injury to her neck.
“It affected my neck. A man was sitting behind me and his weight was on my neck because of how densely populated we were on the boat,” she said.
After arriving in Italy, she said her condition became severe enough to require hospitalisation.
“When I arrived, it had affected my neck and my mobility, so, I had to be hospitalised,” she added.
Child dies in her arms
The woman also recalled one of the most traumatic moments of the journey, when a child belonging to a woman she had assisted on the boat died in her arms.
She said the experience has remained with her and motivated her to speak publicly about the dangers associated with irregular migration.
Her account highlights the potentially fatal risks involved in dangerous sea crossings from North Africa to Europe, particularly for migrants travelling in overcrowded and unsafe boats in search of better opportunities.
She urged Ghanaians considering irregular routes to Europe to weigh the dangers carefully before embarking on such journeys.
