In just four days, 5,000 migrants, including more than 1,300 on March 11, were rescued off the Calabrian and Sicilian coasts by the Coast Guard and the Navy. What plunges again…

Over 5,000 migrants rescued off Italian coast in four days

A boat that rescued around 500 migrants in the port of Crotone in southern Italy, Saturday March 11, 2023. © Valeria Ferraro / AP

Text by: RFI Follow

3 mins

In just four days, 5,000 migrants, including more than 1,300 on March 11, were rescued off the Calabrian and Sicilian coasts by the Coast Guard and the Navy.

This again plunges the small island of Lampedusa into a very difficult situation.

Since January 1, 2023, 17,592 people have landed in Italy compared to 5,976 over the same period in 2022. The first reception and identification center in Lampedusa is overflowing with children, women and men from Libya, Tunisia and Turkey.

More than 2,600 migrants are accommodated there while this center has a capacity of 450 places, reports our correspondent in Rome,

Anne Le Nir

Food, medicine, blankets, clothing and hygiene products were flown to the island.

Other basic necessities are expected on Sunday March 12.

But for the mayor of Lampedusa Filippo Mannino "

This will not solve the problem

“

Europe is too silent in the face of the ongoing humanitarian emergency

,” he said.

Concerning the rescue operations of overloaded boats, they were carried out thanks to close collaboration between the units of the Coast Guard and the Navy.

This collaboration has shown that even in very adverse conditions, it is possible to avoid tragedies such as the

sinking of a caïque in Calabria

on February 26, which caused the death of at least 74 people.

Justice has opened an investigation into this tragedy.

The maritime authorities, and in particular the coastguards,

are suspected of not having reacted quickly enough

to reports of the presence of the overloaded ship in the area.

Rally in support of the victims of the shipwreck

The body of a girl aged 5 to 6, victim of this shipwreck, was also discovered this Saturday, almost two weeks later.

This Saturday, many organizations and citizens gathered this Saturday on the beach of Cutro in Calabria to show their solidarity and support for the victims, their families and the 180 survivors of the shipwreck.

Thousands of protesters marched through the streets behind a cross made with pieces of wood from the shipwreck.

Demonstration in Cutro on March 11, 2023 following the death of 74 migrants in the sinking of a ship off the coast of Italy.

“

We demand that all migrants fleeing wars, violence or poverty be able to enter safely.
We have come together today to show the support of the many associations and citizens for the victims, their families and the survivors.
Such tragedies strengthen the union between associations and citizens who work every day for the respect of human dignity and human rights

", says Antonella Inverno, head of policies for childhood and adolescence at Save The Children

interviewed by RFI.

She criticizes

the policy put in place

by the far-right government of Giorgia Meloni after the tragedy and calls on the European Union.

“

The government has decided to invest more money and simplify procedures to build new centers for the expulsion of migrants.
Europe has demonstrated with the Ukrainians that it was capable of welcoming refugees if it wanted to,

recalls Antonella Inverno.

Therefore, we really hope that Europe can make things happen.

►Also read: Shipwreck of migrants: the Pope's call to arrest the smugglers causes the Italian government to react

Over 5,000 migrants rescued off Italian coast in four days

Over 5,000 migrants rescued off Italian coast in four days

Rally in support of the victims of the shipwreck

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest