ITALY: New migrants arrive on Lampedusa as thousands more await transfers

Record ID: 348293

  • Title: ITALY: New migrants arrive on Lampedusa as thousands more await transfers
  • Date: 4th April 2011
  • Summary: LAMPEDUSA, ITALY (APRIL 03, 2011) (REUTERS) SUN RISING OVER LAMPEDUSA HARBOUR FISHING BOAT LEAVING PORT MAKESHIFT TENT WITH TEXT ON PLASTIC SAYING "IT FUNCTIONS!" SUN RISING OVER MAKESHIFT TENT ENCAMPMENT MIGRANTS GATHERED AROUND FIRE VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS STANDING NEXT TO MAKESHIFT TENT ON HILL OVERLOOKING PORT VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS IN MAKESHIFT TENT CAMP VARIOUS OF M
  • Embargoed: 19th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy, Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA8WDFTPOT40PS6WQ3CDJMWJX6T
  • Story Text: Thousands of migrants woke up in a makeshift tent encampment on the hills of Lampedusa on Sunday (April 03) with hopes of leaving the dismal conditions behind during the course of the day.
    Mass transfers to centres in other parts of Italy are expected to take place later on Sunday as weather conditions have improved and new ferries arrived overnight.
    Angry migrants on Saturday (April 02) threatened to revolt if they were not moved from what they say are unacceptable conditions.
    Authorities moved some 500 migrants on navy ship San Marco late on Saturday night.
    Approximately 2,500 migrants remain on the tiny southern island where conditions have been deemed worse than in African refugee camps by humanitarian groups.
    Many of the migrants have spent more than ten days waiting for transfers on the overflowing island, where according to Medecines Sans Frontiers (MSF) there are just 16 chemical toilets for the entire migrant population.
    The migrants receive just 1.5 litres of water per person per day, compared with recommended standards for refugee camps of 20 litres, MSF said on Friday (April 01).
    But as the thousands of migrants collected breakfast portions on a pier, a boat carrying some 100 new migrants was escorted into the port by coast guard.
    More boats are expected to arrive on Sunday due to better conditions at sea.
    Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who visited Lampedusa on Wednesday (March 30), has blamed Tunisia for failing to stop migrants leaving its shores and says Italy is alone in facing what should be a European problem.
    He will visit Tunisia on Monday (April 04) with Interior Minister Roberto Maroni and has said he will demand that its government accept migrants sent back by Italy and do more to stop them leaving its shores.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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