Turkey stops ship with 276 migrants from setting sail
Turkish authorities say they have intercepted a boat with 276 migrants and eight suspected smugglers on board. The ship was reportedly about to set sail.
Bangladesh
More than 80,000 applications for migrant regularization in Italy
A total of 80,366 applications for migrant regularization in Italy have been submitted in the first month of the scheme, which began on June 1 as part of post-COVID-19 relaunch measures. The vast majority of the cases have already been processed. However, the Italian interior ministry said the number of applications is continually growing.
'Here in the Mediterranean, we can die once. In Libya, we die every day.'
There are currently 118 rescued migrants on board the Ocean Viking ship in the Mediterranean, the majority of them hail from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Eritrea. Some of those on board spoke to AFP, telling them about their experiences of slavery in Libya.
World Refugee Day: German foreign minister calls for greater protections for refugees
On World Refugee Day, Germany’s foreign minister has called for increased protection of refugees. The number of people displaced by war and conflict is nearly equal to the population of Germany.
Trafficker family kills 30 migrants in alleged revenge attack in Libya
At least 30 migrants were brutally murdered in Libya by the family of a slain human trafficker. Libya’s interior ministry said it has issued an arrest warrant for the suspected attackers.
Victim of labor gangmasters 'was virtual prisoner'
Four Pakistani nationals have been arrested on charges of exploiting asylum seekers in the Italian countryside, paying them only 50 euros per month. "I was a virtual prisoner," one of the victims of a group that was allegedly involved in illegal labor intermediation and exploitation said.
Open Arms disembarks 363 people in Italy
The Spanish rescue organization Proactiva Open Arms rescued 365 migrants in the Central Mediterranean in several operations last week. After receiving permission to disembark, 363 people stepped ashore in the Italian town of Pozzallo on Sunday. Two migrants had been evacuated earlier for medical reasons.
Several migrants die in Turkey's Lake Van
Seven migrants were killed in eastern Turkey after their boat sank in Lake Van, according to the official Anadolu news agency. Turkish authorities meanwhile said that they rescued 64 people.
North Macedonia police detain 81 migrants found in truck
Police in North Macedonia have reportedly detained 81 migrants found in a truck near the country's border with Serbia. The driver of the vehicle had apparently ignored a police warning to stop for a check. He later abandoned the vehicle.
Mahbuba’s Story: Caught in the crossfire
Mahbuba Jebin has been involved in politics since she was a student in Bangladesh. She was a member of the student wing of the current ruling party, the Awami League. For years she lived a life of privilege and power. However, her decision to marry a member of the opposition BNP party put her at odds with many in her own party. A campaign of intimidation started which led her to flee the country she loves and seek asylum in the UK. Despite all the difficulties, she continues to write every day.
Bangladeshi women in Italy fight for gender rights
The Bangladeshi community in Italy is the second largest in Europe. However, many women are still struggling to acclimatize, not least because of their husbands. Michele Bertelli reports from Rome.
10.5 million refugees got health care worldwide in 2018, UNHCR
The UN refugee agency UNHCR reports that in 2018, some 10.5 million refugees received health care through public health programs, UNHCR, and other partners worldwide.