Lampedusa mayor says abandoned migrant boats dangerous
The mayor of the southern Italian island of Lampedusa says that boats used by migrants can become a danger to the community and the environment, after they have been abandoned on the island.
mediterranean route
Reports of ‘secret migrant deal’ between Malta and Libyan authorities
Malta has signed a ‘secret deal’ with Libyan authorities to intercept migrants before they reach Maltese waters and take them back to Libya, the ‘The Times of Malta’ has reported. The Maltese government denies the charge.
Italy: 'Phantom' landings of migrant boats up, 7,500+ in 2019
The number of autonomous or so-called "phantom" migrant landings has gone up this year, according to Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese. Meanwhile, the number of sea arrivals and new asylum applicants decreased.
Italian interior minister wants UN to manage migrant centers in Libya
Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese says that an agreement between Italy and Libya regarding migration must be stay in place, but be amended. She wants more centers in Libya that are directly managed by the UN.
Saed: Searching for freedom
Saed, which is not his real name, is only 25 but in some ways he looks much older. He left Syria in 2015 because he could no longer live under Assad’s regime and wanted to find a place where he could be free and state his own opinions without fear. When he arrived in Dresden he ended up homeless for a few nights, but today he shares a house with Germans and has just begun studying once again at university. In addition he leads tours of the city for school pupils with the organization Querstadtein.
Lampedusa hotspot on verge of collapse, Schengen committee
An Italian parliamentary committee that monitors the Schengen system visited the island of Lampedusa. It found that the migrant hotspot on the island is on the verge of collapse.
Lampedusa shipwreck survivor says he tried to save child
Some of the survivors of the shipwreck near the Italian island of Lampedusa told us their stories. One of them tried to save a little girl, but couldn't. He had to watch her drown.
European cities to commemorate shipwreck in which over 360 migrants died
Thirty European cities will hold events to promote a petition to declare October 3 "European Day of Memory and Welcoming," in commemoration of a shipwreck off Lampedusa on October 3, 2013, in which more than 360 migrants died.
Migrant death toll in Mediterranean tops 1,000 for 6th consecutive year: IOM
For the sixth year in a row, the number of migrants who have died in the Mediterranean Sea has eclipsed the 1,000 mark, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The Mediterranean route remains the most fatal migration route in the world.
EU extends Operation Sophia, Libyan coast guard cooperation despite hefty criticism
The European Union has extended Operation Sophia, its anti-migrant-smuggling mission along the Libyan Mediterranean coast, by six months to the end of March 2020. Actual naval operations remain halted, however; the mandate now mainly consists of air support and training Libya’s controversial coast guard, Europe’s go-to partner to stem migration.
Spain saves 155 migrants off coast
Spanish sea rescue workers have saved the lives of 115 migrants over the weekend off Spain's southern coast. The number of arrivals in the country in general, however, has significantly decreased.
Three arrested in Sicily for torturing refugees in Libya
Italian authorities have arrested three people accused of detaining and torturing dozens of migrants, who were hoping to travel to Italy, at a camp in Libya. The three suspects face charges including human trafficking.