ITALY: Residents living on the island of Lampedusa have said they want to see quick action from the EU and Italian government to resolve the migrant issue and address the needs of the local population

Record ID: 348623

  • Title: ITALY: Residents living on the island of Lampedusa have said they want to see quick action from the EU and Italian government to resolve the migrant issue and address the needs of the local population
  • Date: 10th October 2013
  • Summary: LAMPEDUSA, ITALY (OCTOBER 10, 2013) (REUTERS) CENTRAL STREET ON LAMPEDUSA RESIDENTS STANDING ON STREET VARIOUS RESIDENTS WALKING ALONG STREET ELDERLY SEATED AND CHATTING (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) RESIDENT, LUIGI MAGGIORE, SAYING: "That one in the news conference said Giusi Nicolini, our mayor, should come to Rome to speak about Lampedusa. You know what we want here on Lampedu
  • Embargoed: 25th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVADQCEJT57HNW5ESZBXBZJX6IQZ
  • Story Text: Lampedusa residents on Thursday (October 10) said they were waiting to see quick action from the European Union to help resolve the migrant issue that islanders feel they are carrying with little support.
    European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who visited the island on Wednesday, vowed to step up efforts to stem the region's long-running immigration crisis.
    Last Thursday, a migrant boat sank and at least 300 people are believed to have drowned.
    But as the islanders are once again left on their own by dignitaries and the world's media they have little hope that their problems will be resolved any time soon.

    "That one in the news conference said Giusi Nicolini, our mayor, should come to Rome to speak about Lampedusa. You know what we want here on Lampedusa, we want a hospital, a doctor, schools, which we all pay for and we are always abandoned by everyone" said resident Luigi Maggiore.
    The visit by Barroso and Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta was marked by heckling and protests from the local population who feel they have been abandoned by local authorities to deal with the migrant crisis.
    Many of the banners used in the protest are still on display as a reminder of the island's sentiments.

    "In respect of yet another tragedy - go home, we are not accepting visitors" read one banner which had been held up in front of Barroso and his EU delegation.

    "An island filled with pain that carries the weight of the world's indifference" read another banner.
    Whilst all of the islanders feel the plight of the thousands of migrants who arrive on the shores yearly, they also say they have needs too that are not being addressed by the government.

    "Thanks for everything but I hope you all remember us poor people from Lampedusa" said resident Giacomo Anelli, adding "not only these poor people in the holding centre who are in a bad way but also a large number of the population here who are also in a bad way."
    A gruesome search is still underway to check all the bodies of those drowned have been removed from the wreck which lies about one kilometre off shore.
    A state funeral is expected to take place for the hundreds of migrants who died in the tragedy.
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