Malta resident Gidey Ygzaw Legaw lost his sister in the Lampedusa migrant boat tragedy on October 3. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
As the latest tragedy involving migrant boats unfolded yesterday, Gidey Ygzaw Legaw was painfully aware of the devastation it would wreak on the family and friends of those who drowned.
Mr Legaw’s sister, Amileset, was travelling on the rickety vessel that sunk off Lampedusa on October 3. The “quiet and gentle” young Eritrean woman was one of more than 300 migrants who did not live to realise their dreams of a new life in Europe.
“I always told her to stay in Eritrea. I told her the desert and sea crossing were too dangerous,” Mr Legaw said.
Having made the crossing himself eight years ago, Mr Legaw was speaking from experience.
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