The Sailor from Lampedusa, was inspired by real events involving the migrant crisis on Lampedusa Island. The passion and dedication of humanitarian doctors, like, Dr Pietro Bartolo provided further impetus for my writing. Dr Bartolo operated a lone medical clinic on the island for a quarter of a century, and his book, The Tears of Salt, provides a personal account of the daily tragedies that overwhelmed the island.
Tens of thousands of people made the perilous overland trek to the coasts of Libya or Tunisia. From there desperate attempts were made to cross the Mediterranean on rickety boats toward the islet of Lampedusa. Often months and even years were spent on the road before arriving at the coastal towns of North Africa. , From this point, the unsuspecting hopefuls would entrust what little money they had remaining to the local criminal syndicates trafficking in human cargo. The migrants were crammed like cattle on dilapidated barges and unworthy sea vessels. Humanitarian charities like Doctors Without Borders ( Medecins Sans Frontieres) would triage the new arrivals before they were bused and ferried to the reception centres. The “lucky” ones who managed to survive the journey, were given clean clothes, shoes and a telephone card. Once photographed, identified (if possible) and a few days rest , the refugee migrants were sent to one of Italy’s mainland centres, where the process of applications for papers and asylum. began
Michael Bellusci 