The passage of migrants through the Alps has become very common since the Italy-France border was closed.

According to reports from volunteers, this remains true despite the fact that most migrants are given ample information on the dangers they will encounter by crossing the mountains on foot.

It is not uncommon for volunteers to find 20 or 30 migrants stranded along the route each day.

Risking years in prison

This was the case of Benoit Duclos, who on 10 March came upon a family of a father, mother (who was eight months pregnant) and their two children.

Duclos used his car to drive them to the hospital. On the way to the hospital he was stopped by the French gendarmerie and accused of facilitating the illegal entry of migrants.

At that moment, the woman started to have the contractions, but Duclos had to remain with the officers while an ambulance was called and the family taken to the nearest hospital.

Had he not helped them, she would have probably given birth on the way to France. Now he is facing five years in prison for having given aid to this migrant family.

Pregnant, ill and still rejected

Another case with a tragic ending is that of a migrant couple who tried to cross the border with France. They were stopped before they could make the crossing.

Beauty, a 31-year-old Nigerian, was expecting a child and was gravely ill with lymphoma. She had a regular residence permit, but it had expired and she was awaiting the renewal.

On the other hand, her husband, Destiny, had no documents and could neither stay nor travel in either Italy or France.

Despite Beauty's condition, French authorities rejected them on 9 February; she was then taken to the hospital, at first in Rivoli and then in Turin, where she arrived in critical condition.

The doctors, understanding that she would not have made it, did all that they could to keep her alive as long as possible so that at least her child could be saved.

The baby boy, Israel, was born on 15 March by cesarean section. The doctors said that the fact that he managed to remain alive is a miracle.

Now Destiny wishes to remain in Italy to give his son a better future. However, he still needs documents and a job because "in the street there is no future."

'Rescue is not a crime'

Rainbow4Africa, the NGO that gives assistance to migrants, gives information on the risks of crossing the Alps on foot and manages a room in the station of Bardonecchia, has launched a campaign in three languages called “Rescue is not a crime” (“Soccorrere non è un crimine”, “Sauver n’est pas un crime”).

The aim of the campaign is to stress that to rescue someone is a duty and to give aid has nothing to do with the facilitation of illegal entry of migrants.