Record number of migrants arriving on Lampedusa island (Italy)

SGGP September 15, 2023 06:36

The Italian government said more than 6,700 migrants had arrived on the island of Lampedusa in just 24 hours, while the island's reception facility had room for only 400.

Ship carrying migrants arrives at a temporary reception facility on the island of Lampedusa, Italy

According to Reuters, the means of transport for these refugees is 112 boats, many of which are barely seaworthy. This is the highest number of migrants arriving on Lampedusa in a 24-hour period ever, higher than at any time in 2015 and 2016 - years that recorded record numbers of migrants.

Data from the Italian Interior Ministry shows that so far this year, about 123,860 boat migrants have arrived in Italy, nearly double the number in the same period in 2022. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that Italy received more than 180,000 asylum seekers in 2016. Migrants arriving in Lampedusa are usually transferred to Sicily to ease overcrowding, but the surge has hampered transfers and complicated rescue operations.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/so-nguoi-di-cu-den-dao-lampedusa-italy-cao-ky-luc-post705662.html