The Mediterranean crossing continues to be the deadliest migrant route worldwide: 19,000 migrants have been reported dead or missing since October 3, 2013. So far this year, the crossing has claimed over 1,000 victims.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has called on EU member states to relaunch a naval rescue operation in the Mediterranean. The body, which is not related to the European Union, highlighted that it is the duty of EU member states "not to let people drown in the Mediterranean."
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said that more than 1,000 people had died at sea in the Mediterranean in 2019 in a bid to reach Europe. The statement came on the anniversary of the shipwreck off Lampedusa on October 3, 2013.
A spokesperson for the German Interior Ministry said the country could seek to leave the planned automatic redistribution mechanism for asylum seekers if the mechanism were to increase the number of migrants into the thousands.
Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese said that thus far this year, there have been 5,044 forced repatriations of migrants who did not have the right to stay in Italy. she added that more than 200 voluntary returns had also taken place.
Private search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean rely on donations to stay afloat — literally. But not all of them seem to benefit the same way from recent publicity about NGO sea rescues. Following a spike earlier this summer, donations are hitting a new low.
Many of the migrants saved by the Ocean Viking private rescue boat celebrate their arrival in Italy, as they know they've made it to the European Union. But there's still a long road full of uncertainties ahead for the new arrivals. For the time being, however, they focus on sharing their hopes and dreams.
The Naples Orientale University works with other academic institutions on future immigration policies as part of a project that was discussed at a meeting on Monday, September 23, in the southern port city.
Germany, France, Italy and Malta have reached a deal on redistributing migrants rescued at sea, ministers say. Disagreement on the issue among EU states has led to migrants sometimes spending weeks stranded at sea.
The Ocean Viking, a vessel jointly operated by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders, had rescued a total of 217 people in the Mediterranean, 35 of which were taken to Malta.
At a meeting in Malta, the three largest countries in the EU want to find a solution to the issue of distributing migrants. Will other countries follow their lead? Bernd Riegert reports.
The "Ocean Viking" rescue ship has pulled 36 people from an overcrowded wooden boat in the Mediterranean Sea. Maltese authorities had requested the charity chip to save the shipwrecked migrants.