Amidst the fervent political debate over migration across the Mediterranean, a topic that has propelled right-wing parties into power in Italy and other places, it's easy to get lost in a sandstorm of statistics: the tens of thousands of arrivals on Italy's shores, or the estimated 2,000 people who have tragically lost their lives crossing the Mediterranean this year.

However, after spending a week reporting from southern Italy on migration, what truly stands out are the personal stories - tales of fear, hope, tragedy, and triumph - that surpass anything else.

Consider Tessy, a young Nigerian woman who successfully made it to Italy 15 years ago. As she recounted her journey to Europe, she almost broke down. For ten days, she found herself stranded in the unforgiving Sahara desert, with minimal food and water, facing a grim 50:50 chance of survival.

Today, Tessy is happily married and dedicates herself to helping newly arrived migrants and refugees settle into life in Italy. Despite her current contentment, she firmly believes that she would never advise her 21-year-old self to embark on such a perilous journey.

Then there's Anicet, an Ivorian woman whom I encountered outside a migrant reception center in Crotone. She revealed that she had been sold into slavery in Tunisia, describing the horrifying reality of beatings and rapes that countless women endure while attempting to reach Europe. Men, too, spoke of imprisonment and beatings in Libya, where they were held until they could pay ransoms.

The physical and psychological scars inflicted on these individuals will undoubtedly take a long time to heal.

Nevertheless, despite the tremendous risks and challenges, those who undertake this perilous journey hold onto hope that, like Tessy, they can ultimately establish a better life for themselves in a new land.