Nowhere, yet everywhere
There are spaces where democracies falter, losing sight of their founding principles rooted in respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. In Italy, the Silos of Trieste stands as one such place. Like the city itself, it is a poignant site to trace the echoes of the tragedies that scarred the 20th century. From here, in December 1943, the first train departed Italy for Auschwitz. After the war, the Silos became a refuge for those fleeing Istria and Dalmatia. Today, it houses migrants who have survived The Game — a term coined with bitter irony to describe the perilous journey along the Balkan route in search of safety.
The Silos' grand arches, designed to let the icy Bora wind pass through, now stand as a stark testament to neglect. The roof, burned and open to the elements, allows rain to seep in, while brambles in the vast yard provide shelter for rats. Amid these harsh conditions, Afghan asylum seekers prepare a Qorma — a traditional spicy chicken stew — a small act of resilience and cultural preservation. Nearby, in the so-called World Square, Lorena Fornasir, co-founder of the NGO Linea d'ombra, along with volunteers, tends to the wounds, sprains, trauma, and hunger of those who have finally crossed the border, often after countless failed attempts.
These individuals, predominantly Afghan, bear the visible scars of two decades of war in their homeland. Two trillion dollars were spent to expel the Taliban, only to see the country returned to their control twenty years later. The human cost is staggering: seventy thousand civilians killed, nine million refugees displaced, and ninety-two percent of the population facing malnutrition. These figures are embodied in the weary bodies of those who have walked from Asia to Italy across the Balkans.
The World Square buzzes with life: citizens assist volunteers, play volleyball with refugees, and distribute food. Yet the World Square exists nowhere. It is a name bestowed by activists, a place absent from official maps but present everywhere. It reminds us that humanity continues to endure both absurd, intolerable violence and indestructible, resilient solidarity.
Brown University: Costs of War