- Title: ITALY: Two hundred more Tunisian migrants arrive on Italian island of Lampedusa
- Date: 22nd February 2011
- Summary: LAMPEDUSA, ITALY (FEBRUARY 21, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SCENES) ( * BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY *) LAMPEDUSA DOCK VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS ON BOAT REACHING DOCK VARIOUS OF BOAT WITH MIGRANTS AT DOCK VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS WAITING ON DOCK BOAT FULL OF MIGRANTS APPROACHING PORT BOAT FULL OF MIGRANTS DOCKED VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS WAITING ON BOAT VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS
- Embargoed: 9th March 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy, Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAF26ED9NQOG9PIBO34O99ZJ1MH
- Story Text: Around 200 Tunisian migrants reach the southern island of Lampedusa overnight, the latest in a wave of arrivals that has brought 5000 people escaping turmoil in Tunisia the to the tiny Italian island off the North African coast.
Some 200 Tunisians migrants arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa overnight between Sunday and Monday (February 21), the latest in a wave of arrivals by boat over the past two weeks.
According to European Union estimates, more than 5000 Tunisians have reached Italy escaping turmoil in the aftermath of protests that led to the overthrow of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali on January 14.
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.
Over the years Lampedusa, which lies approximately 120 kilometres away from the Tunisian coastline, has become a gateway for illegal immigrants and refugees, and their residents witnessed countless arrivals of immigrants, mostly from North Africa.
Officials worry that any escalation of unrest in Libya could see a flood of migrants from that country to the tiny island.
The European Union has 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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