

‘How Did We Let People Die This Way?’
Nov 10, 2021
Nicholas Casey, the Madrid bureau chief for The New York Times, dives into the heartbreaking reality of African migrants drowning while trying to reach Spain. He shares the story of Martín Zamora, who has dedicated himself to recovering the bodies of these individuals, illuminating the emotional toll on their families. The podcast reveals the struggles faced by migrants, the grim process of identification and repatriation, and the societal indifference surrounding these tragedies, highlighting the urgent need for compassion and action.
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The First Identification
- Martín Zamora, a funeral home director, found a phone number in a drowned migrant's pocket after a 1999 shipwreck.
- This led him to connect with the deceased's brother-in-law and begin his unique work.
Clothes as Clues
- Zamora took the deceased migrants' clothes to Moroccan markets, hoping relatives would recognize them.
- This remarkably successful approach helped him identify all 16 victims of the 1999 shipwreck.
A Growing Need
- What began as a one-off act of compassion for Zamora turned into a significant part of his work.
- Increased migration and drownings, especially after 2015, led to more requests for his services.