by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
Pozzallo, ITALY – Approximately 4,000 immigrants have reached the shores of Italy over the last 48 hour, according to Italian officials, and Italy is calling on the European Union for help.
The Italian government has stated that the latest influx of immigrants has been the highest mass immigration the country has seen since its launch of a naval operation to rescue immigrants at sea. The naval operation, referred to as “Mare Nostrum,” was launched in light of two shipwrecks in October of 2013 that claimed the lives of over 400 migrants from Eritrea and Syria.
The Italian government reported a roughly 60 percent increase in asylum claims in 2013. Most of these claims were from those fleeing Syria. Italy’s Interior Minister, Angelino Alfano, estimated that 15,000 migrants had been rescued so far this year in the Mediterranean Sea, and up to 600,000 migrants from Africa and the Middle East are still ready to launch from Libya. Alfano called on the international community to set up “refugee camps” in Libya and stated that the next six months would be “extremely difficult” because favorable weather conditions meant more migrants would cross the Mediterranean Sea.
“The landings are non-stop and the emergency is increasingly glaring,” stated Alfano. “Europe must take the situation in hand. It cannot say that, having given 80 million euros ($110 million) to [the EU’s border control agency], the problem has been resolved,” Alfano stated.
The Italian Navy stated that of the 4,000 recent arrivals, it had rescued approximately 2,500 of the migrants, and further migrants were being aided by coastguard ships and merchant ships. Alfano also stated that “the procedure for expelling those who do not have a right to stay in Italy should be sped up, but we should welcome those who have a right to asylum.”
The recent influx of migrants comes amidst the buzz of European Parliament elections next month. Lawmakers have disagreed on the migrant influx. MP’s Davide Caparini and Nicola Molteni have urged Alfano to quell the arrivals “by turning them back” and have claimed that asylum-seekers are getting better treatment “than any Italian citizen.” Senator Luigi Manconi, however, the head of the human rights committee in Parliament, stated that the problem was Italy’s to bear.
“We are not facing an invasion, absolutely not. We have to criticize ourselves for not putting in the necessary measures in time,” Manconi said.
The Italian Navy stated that it has undertaken health checks on board of the vessels on which the migrants were rescued and taken the migrants to the ports of Augusta and Pozzallo in Sicily.
On Wednesday, six large tents were assembled in Pozzallo for some migrants, while others have been transported across the country.
For more information, please see:
Al Jazeera – Italy Sounds Alarm as 4,000 Immigrants Land – 9 April 2014
Deutsche Welle – Italy Alarmed Over Boat Migrant Influx – 9 April 2014
The Guardian – 4,000 Immigrants Reach Italy By Boat In 48 Hours, As Minister Calls For EU Help – 9 April 2014
Reuters – Italy Rescues 4,000 Migrants In 48 Hours In Escalating Crisis – 9 April 2014
