Saturday, April 12, 2014

Number of Migrants Rescued Off Italy Surges

During the past 4 days, about 6,000 migrants have been rescued by the Italian Navy.  The ships have been patrolling an area of the Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and North Africa as part of a project established after the shipwreck  off the Italian island of Lampedusa, last October. Critics have argued that Italy is encouraging migrants to come because they know they will be rescued by the patrolling Italian Navy ships.

Since the beginning of the year about 15,000 migrants have arrived in Italy. Most are from Mail, Eritrea and Syria. Last year, there was about 43,000  illegal migrants who arrived in Italy. Many of the migrants use Italy as a port to Northern Europe countries that offer better welfare systems. Italy plans to move many the migrants to other towns and cities across Italy so no one citie is overwhelmed with new arrivals.

Since there has been an increase in migrants in the last few years, immigration is set to be a major topic at the European Union summit this June.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303603904579495390210133018

Jackie Bland

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