ITALY: Lampedusa begins transferring migrants after revolt threats

Record ID: 449522

  • Title: ITALY: Lampedusa begins transferring migrants after revolt threats
  • Date: 3rd April 2011
  • Summary: LAMPEDUSA, ITALY (APRIL 2, 2011) (REUTERS) MIGRANTS CARRYING POSSESSIONS WALKING TO ROAD LEADING OUT OF MAKESHIFT ENCAMPMENT, MIGRANT WALKING PAST SAYING "SICILY" MIGRANT SHOWING THUMBS UP MIGRANTS GATHERING WITH THEIR POSSESSIONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) TUNISIAN MIGRANT SAYING: "We will go now to Sicily, the mister (mayor) of Lampedusa did that will we go to Sicily now. Thanks." RIOT POLICE STANDING BY BUS / MIGRANTS SITTING ON GROUND ALONG ROAD MIGRANTS SEATED ON GROUND MAN CHOOSING MIGRANTS TO BOARD BUS VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS ROUNDED UP ALONG ROAD VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS GIVEN TICKETS AS THEY BOARD BUS VARIOUS OF GUARDIA DI FINANZA POLICE OFFICERS GUARDING GROUP OF MIGRANTS MIGRANT WITH SUNSCREEN SMILING MIGRANTS BEING MARCHED TO BUS BUS CARRYING MIGRANTS LEAVING TOWARDS PORT
  • Embargoed: 18th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy, Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA3QFW59K3MRD0DAX20M3CUKXIO
  • Story Text: The atmosphere on the island of Lampedusa turned from tense to celebratory at sunset on Saturday (April 2) as news of imminent transfers to Sicily spread among thousands of North African migrants.
    Earlier in the day the migrants had threatened to revolt if an operation to move them from the island was not resumed by the end of the day.
    "We will go now to Sicily, the mister (mayor) of Lampedusa did that will we go to Sicily now. Thanks," one migrants said as another showed the thumbs up.
    The migrants were rounded up along a road leading out of a makeshift tent camp and a large number were escorted onto buses to transport them to the harbour to embark Italian navy ship San Marco, anchored on the shores of the island.
    Some 3,000 North African migrants remain on the island, transforming a quiet tourist and fishing port into a garbage-strewn encampment.
    Slow progress in transferring them elsewhere in Italy has sparked anger among the migrants living in dismal sanitary conditions and has overwhelmed outnumbered locals.
    A ticket booth in the port was set on fire on Saturday and some migrants also threatened a hunger strike due to delays in ship departures.
    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 4) 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.
    Berlusconi said Lampedusa would be cleared of migrants by Sunday (April 3) evening.
    Strong winds have prevented government-deployed ferries from docking on the island in the past days.
    The navy ship San Marco has a capacity for some 500 people.
    The transfer plans for the remaining 2,500 migrants was not immediately known.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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