Shipwreck off Libya, at least 15 dead
At least 15 migrants have died in a shipwreck off the Libyan coast and five survivors were brought to shore by fishermen, according to the UN migration agency IOM.
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'Deprived of their liberty': Long-term asylum seekers in Italy who test positive for COVID-19 sent to quarantine ships
An Italian association, ARCI, has expressed its "profound worries" after several asylum seekers housed in various structures across Italy revealed they are being tested and sent to quarantine ships off the coast when they test positive for COVID-19. Some of these asylum seekers have been in Italy several years.
At least 11 migrants dead, more missing off Tunisia
At least 11 migrants are thought to have died when their boat sank off the coast of Tunisia on Sunday. The migrants, believed to be from Africa, were among about 30 people on board. So far, the bodies of eight women and three children have been recovered.
Over a thousand migrants land in Spain's Canary Islands
More than a thousand migrants in 485 small boats have landed in the Canary Islands in the past two days. Tightened security along Morocco's coast has pushed migrants and traffickers to risk the Atlantic crossing.
At least 13 dead in migrant shipwreck off Libyan coast
The UN migration agency IOM reported on Friday, September 25, that a shipwreck off the Libyan coast had left at least 13 dead and 22 survivors which were brought ashore by fishing vessels.
Italian detainee rights chief visits quarantine ship
The Italian national ombudsman for detainee rights last week visited a quarantine ship for migrants anchored off Palermo. Mauro Palma said that he had found conditions on the Rhapsody much better than those in previous temporary facilities provided in overcrowded hotspots in the country.
At least 4 dead in shipwreck off Algeria
The bodies of four Algerian migrants were retrieved after a makeshift raft capsized off the northeastern coast of Algeria. Five others were rescued by coast guards, according to the Algerian state news agency.
At least 3 dead, dozens rescued after migrant boat sinks off Crete
The boat capsized due to heavy winds, leaving at least one woman and two children dead. Search efforts carried on into the night, the Greek coast guard said.
Danish government: Pushing migration outside Europe’s boundaries
Denmark has appointed a new special migration envoy to "help open doors" towards a new EU migration policy which would push reception centers outside EU borders. The government on Thursday also said that Tunisia should take in the 27 migrants aboard the Danish-flagged tanker Maersk Etienne which has been stranded off Malta for weeks.
Italy steps up multi-pronged approach to tackle increased migrant arrivals
Amid growing tensions in Italy due to an increase in migrant arrivals, the Italian government has launched a new call for tenders to find a second ship to use for quarantining migrants arriving in the country. Meanwhile Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini has travelled to Libya to re-launch cooperation between the two countries.
Migrant boat capsizes off Mauritania coast, leaving just one survivor
A boat carrying around 40 migrants and refugees sunk off the coast, killing almost everyone on board. A UNHCR spokesman said the shipwreck was the fault of 'immoral and unscrupulous smugglers' arranging such journeys.
Were migrant rights infringed in Italy because of the coronavirus pandemic?
A new report thinks yes. An Italian rights group recently published a report in which it details several infringements of migrant rights during the lockdown and restrictions designed to fight the coronavirus pandemic. It says that deprivations of personal liberty became more numerous during the lockdown and allowed the authorities to "extend the maximum duration of […] restrictive measure[s]."