André Bakker // Photography // Portfolio

Unauthorized

This ongoing reportage shows the living conditions of the unauthorized immigrants,traveling into Western-Europe via Greece.

They live in inhuman conditions,sometimes for more than a year. Many are being exploited by local businesses.Some 30 Senegalese went on a hunger-strike to claim a 7 month pay. Daily they clash with the port-police trying to get in or under a truck to go to Italy. Some die.

When I was traveling in my Camper from Greece to Holland I heard loud banging, 4 hours out of Venice, an immigrant from Algeria was hiding under my bus. He got on in the port of Patra. If I would not have heard him he would have died from hypothermia for sure (it was 2 degrees).  He had no food/water for 3 days. He almost died but he made it (so far).