Given the unprecedented wave of migration, the southern Italian island of Lampedusa is descending into chaos. About 9,000 migrants have landed on the island since Monday, almost a third more than the total population of 6,300. The municipal council of the Mediterranean island declared a state of emergency on Wednesday evening. Mayor Filippo Mannino calls for more support for the small island, which is under “great pressure”.
“We call for a structural solution because we can no longer manage these migration flows alone,” Mannino said. He calls for the immediate relocation of migrants to Sicily and mainland Italy. He also called for the deployment of naval vessels to intercept migrant boats off the coast of Lampedusa before they can reach the island.
“Situation has gotten out of hand”
Currently, more than 6,000 people are staying in the Red Cross-run refugee facility on the island, which is actually designed for up to 400 people. There were chaotic conditions during the food distribution on Wednesday evening. “The situation has gotten out of hand,” security officials complained. 3,000 migrants are expected to leave the island on Thursday.
The situation in the port came to a head on Wednesday afternoon. Hundreds of migrants tried to leave the port and break barriers. As seen in videos, police pushed people back (see tweet below).
Sharp notes from Salvini
Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini considers the flow of migrants to Lampedusa as an “act of war” against Italy. “If 120 boats arrive in Lampedusa at the same time, this is not an isolated incident, but an act of war. “This will lead to the collapse not only of Lampedusa, but of the entire Italian society,” said Salvini, leader of the right-wing ruling Lega party.
“I am convinced that there is a direction behind this exodus. We will discuss this within the Italian government, but we must not witness any more similar scenes,” Salvini said. The government will “not rule out any form of intervention” to stem the flow of migrants. “If you are left alone, you cannot act differently,” Salvini explains.
Melons beautiful Orban
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will travel to Budapest on Thursday for talks with her Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban. The right-wing populist politician is participating in the so-called demography summit in Budapest. Meloni and Orban are allies on migration, but the Italian head of government has a dispute with Germany: the government in Berlin has suspended the admission of migrants from Italy until further notice because Rome refuses to take back refugees under Dublin rules.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
