Italy declares state of emergency as migrant numbers surge
1 year, 8 months ago

Italy declares state of emergency as migrant numbers surge

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Italy’s right-wing government on Tuesday declared a six-month national state of emergency to help it cope with a surge in migrants arriving on the country’s southern shores. In a statement after the Cabinet meeting, the government said the state of emergency was deemed necessary “to carry out with urgency extraordinary measures to reduce congestion” at an overwhelmed migrant shelter on a tiny Italian island in the Mediterranean. During the COVID-19 pandemic Italy’s governing coalitions also imposed a state of emergency, enabling the Cabinet to mandate many coping measures by decree, temporarily bypassing the usually long parliamentary process for funding and regulations.

Italy Italian Migrant Cabinet Migrants Sicily Lampedusa Declares State  recent  declares  state  italy  surge  sign  numbers  migrant  italian  migrants  boats  verifyerrors  emergency  smugglers

History of this topic

Rescue group saves 11-year-old girl floating alone in the Mediterranean for days after shipwreck
1 week, 4 days ago

Rescue group saves 11-year-old girl floating alone in the Mediterranean for days after shipwreck

Associated Press  

MILAN — An 11-year-old girl from Sierra Leone was found floating in the Mediterranean Sea off Italy’s southernmost island of Lampedusa, believed to be the only survivor of a shipwrecked migrant boat that had departed from the port of Sfax in Tunisia, a humanitarian group said Thursday. The girl was saved by a German-flagged sailboat named Trotamar III, which brought …

Girl, 11, rescued after shipwreck stranded her alone at sea for three days
1 week, 5 days ago

Girl, 11, rescued after shipwreck stranded her alone at sea for three days

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An 11-year-old girl was rescued …

About 20 migrants are reported missing after their boat capsized off Italy
3 months, 2 weeks ago

About 20 migrants are reported missing after their boat capsized off Italy

Associated Press  

ROME — About 20 migrants are believed to be missing after their boat capsized in the Mediterranean this week, the U.N. refugee agency and the Italian coast guard said Wednesday. The coast guard said local officials had spotted the sinking boat around 10 miles southwest of the island. Survivors said 28 people had left Libya on Sept. 1, the coast …

11 bodies of migrants who were trying to reach Italy recovered off Libya
6 months, 2 weeks ago

11 bodies of migrants who were trying to reach Italy recovered off Libya

Associated Press  

ROME — An aid group said Saturday it recovered the bodies of 11 migrants off the Libyan coast and transferred them to an Italian coast guard ship off Lampedusa island, where thousands are trying to reach from North Africa. The aid group, Doctors Without Borders, said its Geo Barents rescue ship had recovered the bodies following a search operation that …

Baby found dead in migrant boat heading for Italy
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Baby found dead in migrant boat heading for Italy

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. SOS Humanity workers aboard its …

Italy's right-wing ministers crack down on NGOs helping migrants entering by sea
6 months, 4 weeks ago

Italy's right-wing ministers crack down on NGOs helping migrants entering by sea

NPR  

Italy's right-wing ministers crack down on NGOs helping migrants entering by sea SCOTT SIMON, HOST: Italy's civil aviation agency says it's preventing aircraft that belong to migrant rescue organizations from operating out of several Mediterranean islands, including Sicily. Tens of thousands of migrants sail from North Africa every year, and as Willem Marx reports, these aircraft restrictions are just the …

Spain to create emergency accommodation for 3,000 migrants amid 55% jump in arrivals by sea
1 year, 1 month ago

Spain to create emergency accommodation for 3,000 migrants amid 55% jump in arrivals by sea

Firstpost  

The arrivals’ surge has been mainly driven by people coming from West Africa on dinghy boats to the Canary Islands in the Atlantic and comes after European Union countries sealed a deal on October 4 on how to handle irregular immigration. Italy has also experienced an uptick in arrivals Spain said on Thursday it would create additional emergency accommodation for …

Lampedusa island in Italy: One of the epicenters of migrant crisis in Europe
1 year, 3 months ago

Lampedusa island in Italy: One of the epicenters of migrant crisis in Europe

Hindustan Times  

Europe is reeling under the effects of migrant crisis and a tiny island named Lampedusa has emerged as the living symbol of how big the problem is. An Italian Coast Guard vessel carrying migrants rescued at sea passes between tourist boats, on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy, September 18, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi In last six days, more than 10000-12000 …

Amid migration crisis, Italy set to pass stricter measures on arrivals
1 year, 3 months ago

Amid migration crisis, Italy set to pass stricter measures on arrivals

Al Jazeera  

Last week, almost 10,000 people arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa. Monday’s move comes as the country is facing a migration crisis, with almost 10,000 people having landed on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa last week. In April, the Italian parliament approved measures to create new migrant centres for people waiting to hear the outcome of asylum applications …

Top EU official heads to an Italian island struggling with migrant influx as Italy toughens stance
1 year, 3 months ago

Top EU official heads to an Italian island struggling with migrant influx as Italy toughens stance

The Independent  

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What’s behind the surge in migrant arrivals to Italy?
1 year, 3 months ago

What’s behind the surge in migrant arrivals to Italy?

Associated Press  

BARCELONA, Spain — Thousands of migrants and refugees have landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa this week after crossing the Mediterranean Sea on small unseaworthy boats from Tunisia, overwhelming local authorities and aid organizations. With Tunisia now the main launching pad for Europe, the island today is receiving around 70% of all migrants arriving in Italy, said Flavio Di …

Italy works to transfer thousands of migrants who reached a tiny island in a day
1 year, 3 months ago

Italy works to transfer thousands of migrants who reached a tiny island in a day

Associated Press  

LAMPEDUSA ISLAND, Italy — A migrant reception center in Italy’s southernmost island of Lampedusa was overwhelmed Thursday as authorities worked to transfer to the mainland thousands of people who arrived on small, unseaworthy boats in a 24-hour span this week. Lampedusa’s mayor, Filippo Mannino, lashed out at the European Union for leaving Italy alone to handle large numbers of arriving …

Italy works to transfer thousands of migrants who reached a tiny island in a day
1 year, 3 months ago

Italy works to transfer thousands of migrants who reached a tiny island in a day

LA Times  

A woman and a child sleep outside the migrant reception center on Italy’s southernmost island of Lampedusa. Lampedusa’s mayor, Filippo Mannino, lashed out at Europe for leaving Italy alone to deal with migrant arrivals by sea, saying its neighbors had “remained silent all these months.” He called for a structural solution to the migrant crisis and told Sky that Italian …

A flotilla of migrant boats from Tunisia overwhelms an Italian island and tests Meloni’s policy
1 year, 3 months ago

A flotilla of migrant boats from Tunisia overwhelms an Italian island and tests Meloni’s policy

Associated Press  

ROME — A flotilla of flimsy boats, crowded with migrants and launched from Tunisia, overwhelmed a tiny southern Italian island on Wednesday, taxing the coast guard’s capability to intercept the smugglers’ vessels and testing Premier Giorgia Meloni’s pledge to thwart irregular migration. With Lampedusa-based Italian coast guard and border patrol vessels unable to intercept all of the smugglers’ boats offshore, …

A flotilla of migrant boats from Tunisia overwhelms an Italian island and tests Meloni’s policy
1 year, 3 months ago

A flotilla of migrant boats from Tunisia overwhelms an Italian island and tests Meloni’s policy

LA Times  

Migrants swim next to their overturned wooden boat during a rescue operation last year off the Italian island of Lampedusa. A flotilla of flimsy boats, crowded with migrants and launched from Tunisia, overwhelmed a tiny southern Italian island on Wednesday, taxing the coast guard’s capability to intercept the smugglers’ vessels and testing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s pledge to thwart irregular …

Italy probes a migrant boat disaster that left 41 feared dead. Four survivors tell a harrowing tale
1 year, 4 months ago

Italy probes a migrant boat disaster that left 41 feared dead. Four survivors tell a harrowing tale

Associated Press  

ROME — An Italian prosecutor investigating last week’s capsizing that left 41 migrants feared dead in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday denounced Tunisia-based smugglers who launch boats so badly built that they quickly take on water, overturn or break apart. The boat the survivors set off in is the type hastily soldered together with pieces of iron by smugglers in …

41 migrants dead in shipwreck off coast of Italy, survivors say
1 year, 4 months ago

41 migrants dead in shipwreck off coast of Italy, survivors say

The Independent  

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Italy: 41 migrants killed in shipwreck near Lampedusa Island
1 year, 4 months ago

Italy: 41 migrants killed in shipwreck near Lampedusa Island

India TV News  

In a tragic incident, at least forty-one migrants have been killed in a shipwreck off Italy's Lampedusa island, BBC reported quoting ANSA news agency. For years, migrants have taken to smugglers’ unseaworthy vessels to make the risky crossing of the Mediterranean to try to reach southern European shores in hopes of being granted asylum or finding family or jobs, especially …

Around 40 missing in Italy migrant boat shipwreck: UN
1 year, 6 months ago

Around 40 missing in Italy migrant boat shipwreck: UN

Deccan Chronicle  

ROME: More than 40 people are missing after a migrant boat capsized off the Italian island of Lampedusa, the UN said. "It is unacceptable to continue counting the dead at the gates of Europe", Cardoletti wrote on Twitter, referring to deadly shipwrecks of migrant boats which have already occurred in Italy, Greece and Spain. "We are therefore not aware of …

More than 1,400 migrants are rescued from overcrowded boats off southern Italy by coast guard
1 year, 6 months ago

More than 1,400 migrants are rescued from overcrowded boats off southern Italy by coast guard

Associated Press  

ROME — More than 1,400 migrants have been rescued from overcrowded vessels, including a sailboat, in four separate operations in the Mediterranean Sea off southern Italy, the Italian coast guard said Wednesday. There were 47 migrants, including two children in immediate need of medical care, aboard the sailboat in distress off the region of Calabria, in the “toe” of the …

Malta says it didn't find migrant boat in distress alerted by NGOs
1 year, 6 months ago

Malta says it didn't find migrant boat in distress alerted by NGOs

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. On Monday, four rescue groups …

About 500 onboard boat in distress in Mediterranean, NGO says
1 year, 7 months ago

About 500 onboard boat in distress in Mediterranean, NGO says

Al Jazeera  

Italian NGO Emergency says Maltese authorities have so far failed to heed calls for a rescue as boat takes on water in bad weather. “The absence of coordination on the part of the authorities is a grave violation of the law of the sea.” Emergency said it had contacted Maltese authorities, in line with maritime procedures, but had received no …

Over 1,000 migrants reach Italian isle; 23 reported missing
1 year, 7 months ago

Over 1,000 migrants reach Italian isle; 23 reported missing

Associated Press  

ROME — With the return of calm seas, migrant smugglers launched dozens of boats from Tunisia during the weekend and some 1,200 people ended up on a tiny Italian island while several were reported missing at sea, the Italian Coast Guard said Monday. In one shipwreck some 20 nautical miles off Lampedusa island coast guard and border police vessels said …

Italy pushes crackdown on migrants reaching its shores
1 year, 8 months ago

Italy pushes crackdown on migrants reaching its shores

Associated Press  

ROME — Italy’s right-wing government pressed ahead with plans to crack down on migrants as they arrived by the hundreds on Monday at a Sicilian port after a coast guard rescue. Coalition ally Matteo Salvini, who leads the anti-migrant League party, wants the country to eliminate a status known as “special protection” for many of the tens of thousands of …

UN: Year is off to a deadly start for migrants crossing Med
1 year, 8 months ago

UN: Year is off to a deadly start for migrants crossing Med

The Independent  

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Italy declares state of emergency over ‘migration congestion’
1 year, 8 months ago

Italy declares state of emergency over ‘migration congestion’

Al Jazeera  

The measure will last for six months and include the redistribution of migrants across the country and repatriations. Italy’s cabinet has announced a state of emergency on immigration following a “sharp rise” of migrant arrivals along the country’s southern shores, a statement said, in a move aimed at better management of arrivals and repatriation facilities. A government source told Reuters …

Italy declares state of emergency as migrant numbers surge
1 year, 8 months ago

Italy declares state of emergency as migrant numbers surge

Associated Press  

ROME — Italy’s right-wing government on Tuesday declared a six-month national state of emergency to help it cope with a surge in migrants arriving on the country’s southern shores. In a statement after the Cabinet meeting, the government said the state of emergency was deemed necessary “to carry out with urgency extraordinary measures to reduce congestion” at an overwhelmed migrant …

2 dead, 20 missing as migrant boat sinks off Tunisia
1 year, 8 months ago

2 dead, 20 missing as migrant boat sinks off Tunisia

The Independent  

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Boat carrying 400 migrants adrift between Italy and Malta
1 year, 8 months ago

Boat carrying 400 migrants adrift between Italy and Malta

Al Jazeera  

People onboard say the boat has been adrift for two days as it has taken on water and is without a captain. A vessel with around 400 migrants and refugees onboard is adrift between Italy and Malta as it awaits rescue from Italian coastguard, according to sea rescue support service Alarm Phone. “The boat has now reached the search and …

Italy: 30 migrants missing, 17 rescued after boat capsizes in Mediterranean
1 year, 9 months ago

Italy: 30 migrants missing, 17 rescued after boat capsizes in Mediterranean

Firstpost  

Rome, Italy: About 30 migrants were missing and presumed drowned after the overcrowded boat they were on capsized during a rescue attempt by a cargo ship off Libya, Italy’s coastguard said on Sunday. “During the rescue operations… the boat capsized during the transfer of the migrants: 17 people were rescued and recovered by the vessel while approximately 30 migrants were …

Italy estimates 680K migrants might cross sea from Libya
1 year, 9 months ago

Italy estimates 680K migrants might cross sea from Libya

Associated Press  

ROME — Intelligence reports indicate nearly 700,000 migrants are in Libya awaiting an opportunity to set out by sea toward Italy, a lawmaker from Premier Giorgia Meloni’s far-right party said Sunday, but a U.N. migration official called the number not credible. Tommaso Foti, the lower parliamentary house whip for the Brothers of Italy Party, told television channel Tgcom24 the Italian …

Italian coastguards bring 1,300 migrants ashore in three separate rescue missions
1 year, 9 months ago

Italian coastguards bring 1,300 migrants ashore in three separate rescue missions

The Telegraph  

More than 1,300 migrants were brought ashore in Italy on Saturday after three separate rescue operations in the Mediterranean, two weeks after at least 74 people died when their boat hit rocks near the coast. Growing numbers of migrant arrivals have piled pressure on Italy’s conservative government, which took office last October promising to reduce the flow only to see …

Italy launches rescue for hundreds of refugees on boats
1 year, 9 months ago

Italy launches rescue for hundreds of refugees on boats

Al Jazeera  

An estimated 1,300 people are in danger off Calabria, where 73 people recently drowned in a shipwreck that sparked scrutiny of Italy’s rescue operations. The Italian coastguard has launched multiple rescue operations to save hundreds of refugees packed aboard boats off the Calabria region, less than two weeks after at least 73 people drowned in a shipwreck. “The rescue operations …

Italy migrant tragedy death toll over 60; dozens missing
1 year, 9 months ago

Italy migrant tragedy death toll over 60; dozens missing

Associated Press  

STECCATO DI CUTRO, Italy — The death toll rose to at least 63 in the migrant tragedy off Italy’s southern coast after rescue crews recovered several more bodies Monday, driving home once again the desperate and dangerous boat crossings of people seeking to reach Europe. “Many of them didn’t know how to swim and they saw people disappear in the …

Italy migrant tragedy death toll over 60; dozens missing
1 year, 9 months ago

Italy migrant tragedy death toll over 60; dozens missing

India Today  

The death toll rose to at least 63 in the migrant tragedy off Italy’s southern coast after rescue crews recovered several more bodies Monday, driving home once again the desperate and dangerous boat crossings of people seeking to reach Europe. “Many of them didn’t know how to swim and they saw people disappear in the waves; they saw them die,” …

Several children among at least 62 feared killed in Italy shipwreck
1 year, 9 months ago

Several children among at least 62 feared killed in Italy shipwreck

Firstpost  

Crotone: Rescuers recovered three more bodies on Monday, a day after a wooden sailboat carrying migrants to Europe smashed onto rocks in inclement weather off southern Italy, bringing the death toll to 62, including at least 14 children. The disaster has reopened a debate on migration in Europe and Italy, where the recently elected right-wing government’s tough new laws for …

Dozens killed as boat carrying refugees sinks off Italy
1 year, 9 months ago

Dozens killed as boat carrying refugees sinks off Italy

Al Jazeera  

At least 62 people, including 12 children, died after a boat carrying more than 100 people crashes in stormy weather off the Italian coast. At least 62 people, including 12 children, have died after a boat carrying refugees sank off the Italian coastal city of Crotone in the southern region of Calabria. “Many of these migrants came from Afghanistan and …

Italy tightens rules for asylum seeker rescue ships
1 year, 11 months ago

Italy tightens rules for asylum seeker rescue ships

Al Jazeera  

New measures could see charities who rescue asylum seekers at sea fined and their ships impounded. Italy’s right-wing government has approved new measures to fine charities who rescue asylum seekers at sea and impound their ships if they break new rules, possibly putting thousands of people’s lives in danger. A cabinet decree on Thursday said these ships should request a …

More than 500 refugees arrive in Italy as rescue ships dock
2 years ago

More than 500 refugees arrive in Italy as rescue ships dock

Al Jazeera  

Italian interior ministry sources say the decision to allow the two ships to dock was based on the poor weather and risks faced by those on board. Italy, which has vowed a tough line on immigration, took in more than 500 refugees as two charity rescue ships were allowed to dock at ports in the south after several days at …

EXPLAINER: What’s behind Italy’s migrant sea rescue standoff
2 years, 1 month ago

EXPLAINER: What’s behind Italy’s migrant sea rescue standoff

Associated Press  

MILAN — Italy’s new far-right-led government has blocked humanitarian rescue ships from accessing its ports, resulting in a standoff with charities that patrol the deadly central Mediterranean, rescuing people in trouble at sea. Two charity rescue boats that entered Italian waters this weekend were directed to the Sicilian port of Catania, where Italian authorities allowed the disembarkation only of migrants …

EXPLAINER: What's behind Italy's migrant sea rescue standoff
2 years, 1 month ago

EXPLAINER: What's behind Italy's migrant sea rescue standoff

The Independent  

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Italy allows more migrants off rescue ships, standoff eases
2 years, 1 month ago

Italy allows more migrants off rescue ships, standoff eases

LA Times  

Migrants wait aboard the Norway-flagged Geo Barents rescue ship before Italian authorities allowed them to disembark in the Sicilian port of Catania on Tuesday. The far-right-led Italian government’s weeks-long standoff with aid groups running rescue ships partially eased Tuesday, as officials allowed all remaining migrants on two rescue ships to access port. Doctors Without Borders, which operates the Geo Barents, …

Rescue charity to take Italy to court over migrant boats standoff
2 years, 1 month ago

Rescue charity to take Italy to court over migrant boats standoff

Al Jazeera  

Italy’s new right-wing government has allowed only a select number of migrants to leave two rescue boats. “The partial and selective disembarkation, such as suggested in the Italian government’s decree, is heinous and can’t be considered lawful according to maritime conventions,” Doctors Without Borders said on Monday. #GrazieGiorgia https://t.co/llTz5XO2xi — Orbán Viktor November 6, 2022 Pope Francis also entered the …

Italy lets minors, sick off migrant rescue boat but spurns others
2 years, 1 month ago

Italy lets minors, sick off migrant rescue boat but spurns others

Al Jazeera  

Italy allows minors and ‘vulnerable’ refugees on board German-flagged rescue ship to disembark, but refuses to respond to safe harbour for three other vessels carrying about 900 people. Italy has allowed a rescue ship carrying 179 refugees and migrants to enter a port in Sicily and begin disembarking children and sick or “vulnerable” people. But challenged the government’s move to …

New Italian government closes ports to NGO ships
2 years, 1 month ago

New Italian government closes ports to NGO ships

Associated Press  

MILAN — Italy’s new far-right led government adopted a measure Friday formalizing the closure of its ports to rescue ships run by humanitarian groups as four vessels with more than 1,000 migrants continued to press for a safe port. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi told reporters Italy would allow a German migrant rescue ship to arrive in Sicily to land minors …

Italy silent as ships with 1,000 rescued migrants seek help
2 years, 1 month ago

Italy silent as ships with 1,000 rescued migrants seek help

Associated Press  

ABOARD THE GEO BARENTS — Humanitarian groups caring for nearly 1,000 rescued migrants on three ships in the central Mediterranean are sounding an alarm about deteriorating conditions, but Italy’s new far-right-led government has not responded to requests for a safe portas it hardens its position against rescue boats. So far, Italy, along with Malta, have remained silent in response to …

Italy relocates refugees after Lampedusa centre overwhelmed
2 years, 5 months ago

Italy relocates refugees after Lampedusa centre overwhelmed

Al Jazeera  

The navy begins transferring the first of 600 migrants and refugees from Lampedusa amid a sharp uptick in new arrivals. The Italian navy has begun relocating hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers from the Sicilian island of Lampedusa after its refugee identification centre was overwhelmed with new arrivals. The Italian Interior Ministry said on Saturday that the navy’s Marco ship …

Charity says it has rescued 800 migrants in Mediterranean
3 years, 1 month ago

Charity says it has rescued 800 migrants in Mediterranean

The Independent  

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686 migrants dock in Lampedusa in biggest arrival in years
3 years, 2 months ago

686 migrants dock in Lampedusa in biggest arrival in years

The Independent  

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