mediterranean route

• Afghanistan
• Greece
• Italy

Irregular migration to Europe is on the rise again, as the number of Afghan arrivals continues to grow in particular, many of whom come by boat from Turkey. The EU has reportedly reached its highest level of migrants setting of from Turkey since the start of the pandemic 18 months ago.

• Italy

The Italian interior ministry said a total of 49,280 migrants arrived in Italy from August 2020 to July 2021, 128% more than the previous year.

• Belarus
• Croatia
• Lithuania

According to the EU border agency Frontex, the number of irregular border crossings to the European Union via the so-called ‘Balkan route’ is up 90% on last year. The majority of those arriving are from Syria and Afghanistan.

• Algeria
• Niger
• Tunisia

Two women and four children were found dead in the Tunisian desert, confirmed an official on Thursday. It is presumed they "died of thirst."

• Tunisia

Instead of paying human traffickers, increasing numbers of Tunisians are buying their own boats and organizing do-it-yourself ocean journeys to Europe. It appears to be a growing trend.

• Italy

The disembarkation of more than 800 migrants from the rescue ships Ocean Viking and Sea-Watch 3 began at the weekend. Ocean Viking is hoping to complete the process on Monday, August 9. The migrants were on board the ships since the end of July.

• Italy
• Libya

Hotly-debated issues surrounding migration have once again been rekindled in Italy, as the number of arrivals rises. Meanwhile, Rome has asked for more solidarity within Europe as dialogue with Libya and Tunisia on migrant management heats up.

• Italy
• Libya
• Malta

Survivors rescued by the NGO ship SOS Mediterranee say that they had been subjected to violence during their journey towards Europe.They say that had spent three days at sea prior to the rescue and had run out of water and fuel shortly after the journey began.

• Italy

The Catholic charity Caritas has launched an appeal to recover the bodies of nine victims of a shipwreck on June 30 off Lampedusa.

• Italy

A 38-year-old woman from the Ivory Coast gave birth to a baby girl after landing on the island of Lampedusa. The 38-year-old, Rita, who named her daughter Maria, was taken straight to the island's health center upon arrival, given the advanced state of her pregnancy.

• Italy
• Tunisia

Following a week of political upheaval, Tunisia's president made allegations saying that agents opposed to democracy were paying youth in the country to embark on dangerous migrations. He did not, however, specify who he meant to address with that comment.

• Italy
• Libya
• Malta

Two NGO vessels have saved some 250 migrants from distress in the Mediterranean Sea over two days. The number of arrivals to Italy via the central Mediterranean, at present one of the most dangerous migration paths in the world, continues to rise.