ITALY/AT SEA: Hundreds of Tunisian migrants remain on Italian island

Record ID: 348284

  • Title: ITALY/AT SEA: Hundreds of Tunisian migrants remain on Italian island
  • Date: 17th February 2011
  • Summary: LAMPEDUSA, ITALY (FEBRUARY 16, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS VARIOUS OF IMMIGRANTS' BOATS AT PIER VIEW OF MEDITERRANEAN SEA FROM PIER AT SEA (FEBRUARY 14, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF COAST GUARD BOAT VARIOUS OF BOAT WITH DOZENS OF IMMIGRANTS ON BOARD LAMPEDUSA, ITALY (FEBRUARY 15, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIO
  • Embargoed: 4th March 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA79T3JVWHE0KDQB8ZOZFOGF8BJ
  • Story Text: Some 1,800 Tunisians migrants remained on the Italian island of Lampedusa on Wednesday (February 16), after a wave of arrivals by boat over the last days.
    According to European Union estimates some 5,500 Tunisians have reached Italy in recent days, escaping turmoil in the aftermath of protests that led to the overthrow of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali on January 14.
    There were no new arrivals on Wednesday, for the third day in a row, likely due to bad weather conditions off sea.
    Immigrants are currently held in an overcrowded holding centre, with groups being moved to other holding centres on mainland Italy on a daily basis in an effort to relieve the strain on resources.
    Tunisia and Italy have agreed several steps to work together to counter illegal migration.
    One migrant said he hoped he would be able to work in Italy.
    "I hope that here in Italy they will give me papers and give me work, I don't want anything else. I want to be normal like all the Italians," he said, standing in a central street on the island, which lies approximately 120 kilometres away from the Tunisian coastline.
    "I did not escape from anywhere, the truth is that I was almost born in Italy", he said, "I always come and go, I like Italy".
    Tunisia's official TAP agency said the agreement was reached in talks late on Monday (February 14) between visiting Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and Tunisian interim Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi.
    Italy and Tunisia had agreed on a cooperation framework that "respects Tunisia's sovereignty" to counter illegal immigration.
    Frattini said on Tuesday (February 15) that Italy would provide Tunisian military forces with technical aid and equipment.
    The flow of illegal migrants had caused a diplomatic row between the two countries, with Tunisia accusing Rome of infringing on its sovereignty after Interior Minister Roberto Maroni suggested sending police to Tunisia to stem the flow of people arriving on Lampedusa.
    The European Union offered Italy money and other assistance to cope with the flood of migrants trying to reach EU shores, but it put no figure on the funds offered.
    Since Ben Ali's departure, Tunisia's interim government has been making faltering steps towards stability, but police have melted away in many places, and strikes and protests have disrupted the economy.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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