We are not going back

The migrants stranded in Ventimiglia have become one of the symbols of the ongoing exodus of refugees, the largest since World War II.

Top view of the border between Italy and France, sealed to migrants by the French authorities since the beginnings of June. The initial makeshift camp is visible on the rocks beside the road.

Menton-Garavan railway station, serving the first town on the French side of the France-Italy border. Three police officers take a migrant pulled out of the train into custody.

Some of the tents initially used by the migrants to take shelter on the rocks, and a yatch on the background. The exclusive French Riviera is only a few hundreds metres away.

During a protest a few metres from the French border, the Italian police push back a group of activists and migrants.

The camp has been set up on the premises of the old Italian tourist office, under the railway that connects Italy to France.

Migrants during a protest, asking for a reopening of the border.

The camp has been set up on the premises of the old Italian tourist office, under the railway that connects Italy to France.

Bob (18, from Sudan), poses for a portrait. He says he is one of the few survivors of a shipwreck in the Mediterranean which claimed the lives of over 400 people.

Two migrants examine a map while they wait to resume their journey.

The camp's media centre, where activists and migrants organize their activities and stay in touch with their relatives and friends.

Idris (20), from Ethiopia, poses for a portrait. He wants to reach the UK. In Libya, he paid a man for the boat trip but it was a scam, so he was forced to work 4 months in Libya to pay for the boat trip again. After landing in Sicily and crossing Italy, he was stopped by the police in Menton and deported to Ventimiglia.

The self-organised community at the camp also seeks to provide migrants with basic information.

Four activists teach French language to a group of migrants as part of the daily activities at the camp.

Mohamed (20), from Sudan, poses in front of a banner that reads: "We are not going back because we lost everything. We are not for trade, we are human beings."

Daily life at the camp. The migrants stranded there for days, weeks or even months wait for the right moment to try to cross the border again. Many take the risk of walking at night along the railway, others decide to rely on the 'passeurs' (smugglers) mafia.

Migrants and other swimmers at Balzi Rossi, the bathing area closest to the border.

Evening prayer during the month of Ramadan, a few metres from the border; the imam comes here from France to bring food and comfort to the migrants.

One of the migrants stranded in Ventimiglia contemplates the sea at sunset.

French-Italian border, July the 14th 2015. Some of the migrants stranded in Italian territory observe the fireworks fired over the border, in France, on the occasion of the national day celebrating ideals of freedom, equality and brotherhood.