The migration crisis in Lampedusa also affects Italy’s neighboring countries. The government in Paris announced this week an increase in the number of security forces on the border with Italy. Austria also maintains close contact with the Italian authorities. Monitoring of the Brenner border has been intensified.
The Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean Sea is currently facing the arrival of thousands of migrants that it can barely cope with. The Italian Red Cross reported more than 7,000 newcomers on Wednesday evening – as many as the island, 145 kilometers north of Tunisia, has inhabitants. The good weather in recent days resulted in more people than normal crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa in boats. The island’s shelter is designed for fewer than 400 people. Men, women and children had to spend the nights in the open air around the camp. That is why a state of emergency was declared on Wednesday.
The European Commission said on Thursday that it is in close contact with the Italian authorities. Around 450 staff from the EU Asylum Agency and Frontex are currently deployed on the ground. Italy is also financially supported with 14 million euros in emergency aid. A special meeting will take place on Friday as part of the EU Solidarity Platform. This allows Member States to exchange information about their reception capacity.
Edtstadler: “EU migration system has failed”
European Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) emphasized that the “dramatic images from Lampedusa” showed once again “that the current European migration system has failed. The European Union has stood still for far too long.” She called for fundamental reforms. “Europe must regain control of its borders, combat the root causes of flight and establish rapid asylum procedures at the EU’s external borders,” Edtstadler explained on Friday.
The Austrian Interior Ministry said on Thursday it was in contact with Italian authorities. At the same time, supervision of the burner would be intensified. However, experts assume that most migrants will remain in Italy or continue on to France. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) is certain that “the European Commission must become even more consistent, stricter and faster in the fight against human trafficking and asylum abuse.” The Green Party’s foreign policy spokeswoman Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic called for “finally fair distribution quotas among all member states and greater solidarity.” “Legal and safe escape routes are necessary, also to prevent future tragedies,” Ernst-Dziedzic said.
Bus carrying migrants crashes
An accident involving a bus carrying migrants who had landed in Lampedusa a few days ago occurred near the Italian capital Rome on Friday, leaving two people dead. The bus collided head-on with another vehicle on the highway, ANSA and Adnkronos news agencies reported, citing traffic police. According to the information, the dead were the drivers of the two vehicles. According to ANSA, 25 migrants were injured, some seriously.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
