ITALY: Boats pile up in boat cemetery on Lampedusa after migrant influx

Record ID: 348341

  • Title: ITALY: Boats pile up in boat cemetery on Lampedusa after migrant influx
  • Date: 16th February 2011
  • Summary: LAMPEDUSA, ITALY (FEBRUARY 15, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BOATS LYING ON SIDES IN HARBOUR AREA ARABIC WRITING ON SIDE OF VESSELS VARIOUS OF BOATS IN BOAT CEMETERY
  • Embargoed: 3rd March 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy, Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAEBDZCZNEAB6VX5YAEO9MD4XJA
  • Story Text: The boat cemetery on Italy's Lampedusa island was filling up on Tuesday (February 15) after thousands of Tunisian migrants using small vessels arrived on the island over the last few days.
    Boats of every size lie abandoned in the harbour area, many with Arabic writing written on the side. Over the last year, this area used for discarded vessels, remained empty after the stream of illegal immigrants was virtually stemmed following a pact with Libya allowed the Italian authorities to stem the flow. Now the boats are back on the beach of the small port.
    Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni is trying to organise a European special summit to discuss the Tunisian migrant situation which he fears will only grow with the possibility of Egyptian migrants also reaching Italian shores.
    "This is a question that involves all political institutions in this region in great fermentation and only Europe on a political level can be the necessary intermediary in these situations," Maroni said.
    Earlier in the day a vessel carrying 60 migrants coming from Egypt arrived on the Sicilian coastline.
    Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has also requested help from Europe and Frontex, the European border control agency has promised assistance.
    Authorities have begun moving some migrants from the overcrowded holding centre on Lampedusa to other centres on mainland Italy. But many Tunisians still roam the streets of the island.
    "Everyone in Lampedusa is nice with us, they help us and we are breathing freedom here in Lampedusa," said a Tunisian migrant walking on the streets with a group of men.
    So far additional arrivals have been stemmed as Tunisian military vessels begin to patrol the country's coastline.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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