- Title: ITALY: Hundreds of migrants begin journey into Europe from Italian holding centre
- Date: 5th March 2011
- Summary: LAMPEDUSA, SICILY, ITALY (MARCH 4, 2011) (REUTERS) LAMPEDUSA HARBOUR WAVES BREAKING ON SHORE WAVES CRASHING ON PIER ABANDONED BOATS USED BY TUNISIAN MIGRANTS TO ARRIVE ON LAMPEDUSA IN BOAT CEMETERY LOGO WITH ARABIC TEXT AND PICTURE OF FISH ON BOAT BOATS PILED UP HOLDING CENTRE VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS INSIDE HOLDING CENTRE MIGRANT TAKING PHOTO WITH MOBILE PHONE MIGRAN
- Embargoed: 20th March 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy, Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: International Relations,Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA9Q4MIB75RHQFTVXTYHTWGR479
- Story Text: The waters around the quiet southern Italian island of Lampedusa carry turbulence that authorities fear may soon be felt all across Europe.
Over the years Lampedusa, which lies approximately 120 kilometres away from the Tunisian coastline, has become a gateway for illegal immigrants and refugees.
Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants try to make the journey from the northern coasts of Tunisia and Libya to islands off Italy every year.
According to Italian government estimates over 6,000 Tunisians have arrived on Lampedusa in the past month to escape recent unrest.
After a six-day break in new arrivals due to rough sea conditions, Italian authorities are concerned a new influx of migrants may have resumed with over 500 Tunisians disembarking on Lampedusa earlier in the week.
The migrants are currently held in an overcrowded holding centre, with groups being moved to other centres on Sicily or mainland Italy on a daily basis in an effort to relieve the strain on resources.
Local residents have voiced concerns about the large number of migrants seeking respite from the fenced building complex, roaming around freely on the small island.
Young Tunisians climbing the rocky hills around the centre said some 700 migrants were currently held at the barracks, which have a capacity for approximately 800 people.
Twenty-four-year-old Hamza, killing time with other young men on the hillside said the situation in Tunisia had become unbearable for the youngsters, leaving them with no choice but to make the difficult journey to Europe.
"There is no work in Tunisia, you understand? It's very tough in Tunisia right now. For example a pack cigarettes and eating, it's hard to afford even that because in Tunisia you work 24 hours a day for just ten dinars," Hamza said.
But while many of the migrants arrive on Lampedusa with very little to their name, seeking a better life, some simply look for an adventure.
A 25-year-old migrant who wished to remain unidentified said he was the only child of a well-to-do family and had enjoyed a good life in his home country. He had spotted an opportunity to visit Europe in the many boat departures, he said.
"I was well off in Tunisia but like everyone I wanted to try a new experience. I had done all the paperwork to go to Canada but unfortunately I was refused a visa there so I saw this as an opportunity to visit Europe," he said.
As bad weather conditions at sea kept new arrivals at bay on Friday (March 4) authorities on the island moved to make space at the holding centre by transferring hundreds of migrants to other similar venues in Italy.
The migrants, carrying their few possessions in plastic bags were tightly monitored by police officers as they prepared to board a flight to Sicily's Palermo.
Italy and Tunisia have agreed on a cooperation framework that "respects Tunisia's sovereignty" to counter illegal immigration.
However, Italian authorities are also concerned that instability in Libya could spark a new flow of migrants which would be difficult to stem.
Rome, formerly Libya's closest ally in Europe, signed a friendship and co-operation treaty with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi Tripoli in 2008 that included joint operations between Italian and Libyan coastguard forces to stem the influx of illegal immigration into Italy.
But with recent events in Libya it is clear that patrolling of waters along the Libyan coastline is no longer taking place. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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