Italy’s Coast Guard rescues 49 migrants off Lampedusa coastline

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Feb 2024 17:08

According to Italy's ANSA news agency, a Coast Guard patrol boat took action and rescued the migrants, who reportedly hailed from Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, and Bangladesh.

Migrants walk in Lampedusa Island, Italy, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. (AP)

The Italian Coast Guard on Thursday successfully rescued 49 migrants whose boat had capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the shores of Lampedusa Island as they attempted to journey from North Africa to Europe.

According to Italy's ANSA news agency, a Coast Guard patrol boat took action and rescued the migrants, who reportedly hailed from Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, and Bangladesh.

The rescued reported that there were more people on the boat.

Though it was noted that some migrants were unaccounted for following the boat's sinking, the precise figures remained unknown.

The report further mentioned that each migrant paid approximately $650 for the voyage.

As per information from Italy's Interior Ministry, the total count of irregular migrants who have reached the country by sea since the start of the year is 2,268. In comparison, during the corresponding period last year, the figure stood at 4,963.

Situated closer to Tunisia than the Italian mainland, tensions have escalated on the island of Lampedusa as residents openly display their frustration with the continuous influx of migrants attempting to reach Europe from North Africa.

This longstanding issue, witnessed by the island's population for decades, has reached a point where the number of migrants this week briefly exceeded the island's resident population, marking yet another chapter in the series of tragedies they have observed over the years.

In September last year, the island declared a state of emergency due to over 8,000 undocumented migrants arriving in just three days, surpassing the island's permanent population. Lampedusa's Mayor, Filippo Mannino, described the situation as nearing a breaking point.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vowed to prevent her country from becoming what she called "a camp for refugees" in Europe because of the large influx of refugees arriving from Africa and Asia.

"I will not let Italy become a camp for refugees in Europe. It is necessary to declare war against human traffickers," Meloni told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York, acknowledging the challenging migrant situation and expressing optimism that international organizations would assist in finding a solution to the crisis.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Lampedusa and pledged support for Italy to address the migrant influx.

She proposed a ten-point action plan, known as the "Plan for Lampedusa," which includes repatriation for those without asylum, cooperation with Tunisia for development, and actions against migrant smuggling.