Stranded is the word that the African immigrants use when, crossing the Sahara desert to arrive in Europe, remain still, without money in an oasis of the desert, Dirkou or Agadez, without being able to move forward or go back.

Stranded is also the word that indicates the condition of African immigrants in Castel Volturno, one of the milestones in the journey through Italy, to North of Europe. In Castel Volturno they stop, no one asks questions in the land of Camorra, the Neapolitan mafia - in Castel Volturno Western Europe blends with West Africa.

Every morning immigrants wake up at 4:00 to go to the suburbs of Naples to look for some jobs. If they can’t find a job they come back in Castel Volturno, it’s too dangerous staying outside the “ghetto” without regular documents. They are “obsessed” to find regular permit to stay in Italy, they know that without documents they have no rights so everyone asks for a permit for humanitarian reasons but it’s very difficult to get it.

Street near Castel Volturno

They live a time of a psychological “suspension” waiting for something that sometimes, is the violence of Camorra shooting. In September 18 2008 gangsters of Casalesi clan, the one that threaten death the writer Roberto Saviano the author of Gomorrah, killed six immigrants from Togo, Liberia and Ghana. Police suspect a dispute over drug trafficking; according to combonian missionaries it could be a “message” of Camorra to all African immigrants to go away from Castel Volturno. Near Castel Volturno there’s a place called Villaggio Coppola. The village, built in later ’60s of 20th century as a touristic center by Vincenzo and Cristoforo Coppola, is sadly famous to be completely abusive and it became a symbol of building speculation in Italy. In 2003 an agreement was signed for the requalification of the territory that means the arrival of large sums of money and Camorra clans want to be in this huge business to clean money from drug trafficking and other illegal activities.

African immigrant is going from Castel Volturno to the suburbs of Naples to look for some jobs. Most of the immigrants are clandestine so they work off the books. For 8 hours job they are paid from 30 to 50 euro.

Place where immigrants of Castel Volturno waits for someone offering them some jobs.

Place where immigrants of Castel Volturno waits for someone offering them some jobs.

Immigrant worker, most of immigrants work as mason

Nigerian man in domiziana road. Today nobody offers him a job.If immigrants can't find a job in the suburbs of Naples in the morning they come back in Castel Volturno.

Appointment for the "interview" for asking a refugee permit. Many immigrants are clandestine and they ask for refugee permit to stay in Italy but it's very difficult to get it.

A road in Castel Volturno

African immigrants standing in line for the distribuition of food offered by CARITAS: they don't have regular job, some day they can find a job, other day they aren't so lucky.

Luggages of immigrants outside CARITAS: many immigrants can't afford to rent an apartment or a room so they live outside CARITAS.

African boy playing soccer outside Santa Maria dell'Aiuto church, the church near CARITAS, where combonian missionaries say mass.

Soldier patrols the streets in Castel Volturno after the massacre of 6 Gahanian men. Police suspect a dispute over drug trafficking; according to combonian missionaries it could be a "message" of Camorra to all african immigrants to go away from Castel Volturno because clans want to invest on tourism industry.

Domiziana seen thrugh a combonian father's car. Combonians have many missions in in Africa, they are in Castel Volturno because there's one of the largest african comunity in Italy. They come in Castel Volturno in the 90's

Father Antonio Bonato, a combonian father who has lived for 16 years in Mozambique

Entrance to the church of Santa Maria dell' Aiuto in Castel Volturno. Masses are said in English because of many english speaking immigrants.

Singing during the mass

A man praying during a mass. Most of immigrants come from Gahana and Nigeria so masses are said in English

Woman praying

View of a building called "American Palace": about 10 years ago, NATO solders used to live here. Now there are only immigrants.

Place where napolitanian mafia killed 6 Gahanian men. Police suspect a dispute over drug trafficking; according to combonian missionaries it could be a "message" of Camorra to all african immigrants to go away from Castel Volturno because clans want to invest on tourism industry.

Nigerian guy on Domitiana.

View of the sea from Coppola Village.Villaggio near Castel Volturno.The village, built in later '60s of 20th century as a touristic center by Vincenzo and Cristoforo Coppola, is sadly famous to be completely abusive and it became a symbol of building speculation in Italy. In summer is the place chosen for vacation by families from the suburbs of Naples. In 2003 an agreement was signed for the requalification of the territory. The arrival of large sums of money have raised the concern of camorra infiltration for the management of contracts.