- Title: Nearly 700 migrants rescued at sea arrive in Sicily
- Date: 7th November 2016
- Summary: AUGUSTA, ITALY (NOVEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) SPANISH MILITARY SHIP 'NAVARRA' IN HARBOUR VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS ON SHIP'S DECK TODDLER PLAYFULLY PUSHING RESCUER IN PROTECTIVE CLOTHING VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS DISEMBARKING FROM SHIP RESCUERS HELPING LIMPING MIGRANTS TO GET OFF SHIP VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS GETTING OFF SHIP (SOUNDBITE) (English) COORDINATOR OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ITALIAN NGO EMERGENCY, FEDERICA FIONDINI, SAYING: ''These people today suffer from diseases of the respiratory tract, some skin diseases and psychological diseases as well. Some women told us that they are victims of torture as well." MOTHER AND CHILD ON DOCK VARIOUS OF UNHCR STAFF SPEAKING TO MIGRANTS VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS SITTING ON DOCK VARIOUS OF UNHCR STAFF SPEAKING TO MIGRANTS VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS LEAVING HARBOUR
- Embargoed: 22nd November 2016 14:13
- Keywords: migrants sea rescue asylum seekers Augusta Sicily
- Location: AUGUST, SICILY, ITALY / AT SEA
- City: AUGUST, SICILY, ITALY / AT SEA
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00157G4LZB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Almost 700 migrants were taken to the Italian port town of Augusta on Monday (November 7) after being rescued at sea by Italian and Spanish ships.
The migrants crowded on the deck of the vessel as it approached the port in Sicily, where Red Cross personnel were waiting to assist them.
The migrants, whose nationalities were not available, gradually disembarked the ship, some wearing thermal blankets and face masks. Then, they were seen leaving the harbour all together to board on buses and be driven to reception centres in the area.
''These people today suffer from diseases of the respiratory tract, some skin diseases and psychological diseases as well. Some women told us that they are victims of torture as well," said Federica Fiondini, a medical assistance coordinator for an Italian NGO.
In a separate landing on Monday, around 1,000 migrants and 10 bodies found lifeless by rescuers on a boat were landed in Palermo on the other side of Sicily.
Over 3,000 migrants were rescued at sea between Saturday (November 5) and Sunday (November 6) as they tried to reach Europe, and ten bodies were recovered, Italy's coast guard said.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said last week that 4,220 migrants had died in the Mediterranean so far this year, compared with 3,777 in the whole of 2015.
As of November 2, 159,496 people had reached Italy by sea this year, the IOM said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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