Migrants' cherished belongings

Migrants' cherished belongings

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As the European Union struggles with hundreds of thousands of migrants flocking to its shores across the Mediterranean, often dying in the attempt, Reuters photographers from Mexico to Serbia portray migrants on the move and their cherished possessions.

Pakistani migrant Mohamed Ayub, 51, is just one among those who have left their homes behind in search of a better life.

. KOS, Greece. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis
Ayub holds the most valuable item he currently owns - his empty wallet.

The arrival of migrants, who risk life and limb on journeys in rickety boats or stowed away in lorries to cross seas and borders, is far from just a phenomenon faced by European nations.

Migrants from Central America, for instance, set their sights on the U.S., where President Barack Obama plans to shield millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation.

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Afghan migrant Ali, 15, holds his religious possessions near the Serbian border with Hungary in the town of Subotica.
. SUBOTICA, Serbia. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Afghan migrant Ali, 15, holds his religious possessions near the Serbian border with Hungary in the town of Subotica.

Ali says he wants to go to Belgium to meet his friends and finish high school. He travelled for 20 days through Iran, Turkey and Bulgaria to reach Serbia.
. SUBOTICA, Serbia. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Ali says he wants to go to Belgium to meet his friends and finish high school. He travelled for 20 days through Iran, Turkey and Bulgaria to reach Serbia.

Afghan migrant Rafiullah, 18, holds his mobile phone charger near the Serbian border with Hungary in the town of Subotica.
. SUBOTICA, Serbia. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Afghan migrant Rafiullah, 18, holds his mobile phone charger near the Serbian border with Hungary in the town of Subotica.

Rafiullah, who ran a fruit shop in Afghanistan, says he wants to go to France and ask for asylum. He travelled through Iran, Turkey and Bulgaria to reach Serbia.
. SUBOTICA, Serbia. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Rafiullah, who ran a fruit shop in Afghanistan, says he wants to go to France and ask for asylum. He travelled through Iran, Turkey and Bulgaria to reach Serbia.

Honduran migrant Gerson Leonel Bardal stands on the patio of the migrant shelter "Posada Belen" in Saltillo.
. SALTILLO, Mexico. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

Honduran migrant Gerson Leonel Bardal stands on the patio of the migrant shelter "Posada Belen" in Saltillo.

Bardal says this poncho is his most precious belonging because it keeps him dry when it rains and prevents him from catching a cold on his way to the U.S. border.
. SALTILLO, Mexico. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

Bardal says this poncho is his most precious belonging because it keeps him dry when it rains and prevents him from catching a cold on his way to the U.S. border.

Honduran migrant Rudy Williams stands in a dorm of the migrant shelter "Posada Belen" in Saltillo.
. Saltillo, Mexico. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

Honduran migrant Rudy Williams stands in a dorm of the migrant shelter "Posada Belen" in Saltillo.

Williams displays his most precious belongings: deodorant, a pair of clean socks and some jeans.
. SALTILLO, Mexico. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

Williams displays his most precious belongings: deodorant, a pair of clean socks and some jeans.

Guatemalan immigrant Jennifer Mendez, 27, tries to board a train heading to the Mexican-U.S. border, in Huehuetoca, near Mexico City.
. HUEHUETOCA, Mexico. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Guatemalan immigrant Jennifer Mendez, 27, tries to board a train heading to the Mexican-U.S. border, in Huehuetoca, near Mexico City.

A book, a cell phone and wallet, possessions of Mendez, are displayed on the ground. Mendez, a surgeon, travelled from Guatemala with the dream of studying in the United States.
. HUEHUETOCA, Mexico. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

A book, a cell phone and wallet, possessions of Mendez, are displayed on the ground. Mendez, a surgeon, travelled from Guatemala with the dream of studying in the United States.

Libyan migrant Icham El Korati, 38, who left his country in March 2011 because of war, was a taxi driver and the owner of a coffee bar in Misrata.
. NICE, France. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Libyan migrant Icham El Korati, 38, who left his country in March 2011 because of war, was a taxi driver and the owner of a coffee bar in Misrata.

Belongings of El Korati are laid out on the ground.
. NICE, France. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Belongings of El Korati are laid out on the ground.

Abdel Bachir, 20, a migrant from Chad, lives in a makeshift camp in front of the Austerlitz train station in Paris.
. PARIS, France. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Abdel Bachir, 20, a migrant from Chad, lives in a makeshift camp in front of the Austerlitz train station in Paris.

Bachir’s shoes are displayed on the ground.
. PARIS, France. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Bachir’s shoes are displayed on the ground.

Eritrean migrant Dejen Asefaw, 24, waits to take a train to the Brenner Alpine pass on the Italy-Austria border. Asefaw left his country because he was drafted into the military and assigned to teach high school for the payment of $5 equivalent per week. He said he couldn’t survive on such a small salary.
. BOLZANO, ITALY. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

Eritrean migrant Dejen Asefaw, 24, waits to take a train to the Brenner Alpine pass on the Italy-Austria border. Asefaw left his country because he was drafted into the military and assigned to teach high school for the payment of $5 equivalent per week. He said he couldn’t survive on such a small salary.

Asefaw wants to gain asylum in Sweden, where his brother lives, get a job and send money home. A university graduate, he'd also like to continue his studies. He plans to marry his fiancee, who accompanied him on the long journey from home, as soon as he can afford it.
. BOLZANO, ITALY. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

Asefaw wants to gain asylum in Sweden, where his brother lives, get a job and send money home. A university graduate, he'd also like to continue his studies. He plans to marry his fiancee, who accompanied him on the long journey from home, as soon as he can afford it.

Syrian migrant Feras, 22, poses for a photograph in Catania.
. CATANIA, ITALY. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello

Syrian migrant Feras, 22, poses for a photograph in Catania.

Feras aims to be a computer technician in Germany.
. CATANIA, ITALY. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello

Feras aims to be a computer technician in Germany.