An increased number of families of refugees and migrants who entered Europe through the Balkan route are now attempting to reach France by a dangerous route through the Alps.

For thousands of migrants who have endured extremely difficult journeys across the European continent, the additional strict restrictions imposed to reduce the spread of the pandemic have made crossing borders between countries an even harder operation than it used to be.

READ MORE

"As the numbers rise, people care less"

Huge iceberg breaks off in Antarctica

Europe struggles with Long COVID-19

Amir Hotak, 23, fled from his native Afghanistan and continued his journey through Iran, Turkey, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia before finally reaching Italy. 

But his journey isn't over yet. He dreams of reaching France, because "In France, in France is good life," he said. "No war."

Like other migrants hoping to reach France, Hotak braved the freezing cold of the Alpine winter nights and embarked on a dangerous night hike to try to cross the border without being stopped by border authorities. 

Hotak's perilous journey came to a halt when the French Gendarmerie spotted him walking across ski slopes, shone a torch on him and the other migrants he was traveling with and asked them to stop and show their identity papers.

Like Hotak, thousands of migrants and refugees have attempted the same route. Since 2017, the Italian Red Cross has been monitoring the Italian side of the Alps in the town of Claviere, intercepting some 5,000 migrants since then – 1,500 since October.

Back then the route was mostly used by migrants coming from Africa, but for a few months now officials have reported seeing more families trying to cross the Alps, mainly migrants coming from Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq.

Michele Belmondo, who patrols the mountains as a volunteer with the Italian Red Cross, said the journey across the Alps is full of obstacles, and the cold can be lethal. "Unfortunately there have been cases of migrants who were rescued with serious injuries, serious hypothermia," Belmondo explained.

"In some cases there have been permanent injuries, people who had their fingers amputated due to the extreme cold."

Migrants and refugees spotted by the French National Gendarmerie near the border are sent back to Italy after a few hours of detention.

Video editor: Pedro Duarte