From January 1st to date, 45,157 migrants have arrived on the Italian Mediterranean coast, a fourfold increase compared to the number of arrivals in Italy in the past two years.
Hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan countries continue to arrive on the Italian island of Lampedusa, after the weather has improved and the sea has calmed. According to media and security reports, the number of departures from the beaches of Sfax and other ports in Tunisia and Libya has increased. Most of the migrants reach Italy by their own means, and are often rescued by Italian ships.
Officials at the first migrant reception center in Contrada Imbricola, which was empty between Wednesday and Thursday, are suffering again due to the rise in arrivals to the island, while ferries and military planes continue to transport illegal immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers to other Italian regions.
From January 1st to date, 45,157 migrants have arrived on the Italian Mediterranean coast, a fourfold increase compared to the number of arrivals in Italy in the past two years.
In total, there are 7,269 from Ivory Coast, 5,910 from Guinea, 4,597 from Egypt, 3,915 from Pakistan and 3,454 from Bangladesh. About 10 per cent of the arrivals are unaccompanied minors.
