Number of migrants in Italy quadruples

This article was last updated on April 12, 2023

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Number of migrants in Italy quadruples

Italy has declared a state of emergency as the number of migrants arriving on its shores has quadrupled in comparison to the same period last year. Over 31,000 migrants have already arrived in Italy in 2023, with almost 8,000 migrants making successful voyages. In the past week, more than 3,200 migrants arrived in the southern European country, with 1,389 migrants making it ashore on Sunday alone. The migrants have arrived in Italy by boat or have been rescued by aid organizations before being brought ashore.

As a result of the growing number of migrants, the Italian government has declared a state of emergency. The government will release €5 million from a national emergency fund to be used for “urgent measures” such as the creation of new reception centers. The government has cited an “exceptional increase in the number of migrants” as the reason for the state of emergency. The aim of the funds is to create new reception centers to accommodate the migrants, with a specific focus on the “hotspot” Lampedusa, an Italian island between Sicily and Tunisia, which is currently home to 1800 migrants. There is room for only 400 people, so hundreds of migrants are being transferred by ferry to reception centers in Sicily.

Italian Interior Minister Piantedosi has stated that the state of emergency will last for six months but will not provide a structural resolution to the migrant issue. The minister believes that the European Union (EU) must take action to resolve the problem. The Italian government hopes that the declaration of the state of emergency will serve as a signal to the EU to take notice of the issue and take action.

The Italian government can use the emergency funds for natural disasters, and the declaration of a state of emergency offers flexibility to create new reception centers to accommodate migrants, including closed centers for those who need to be returned. The government believes that these procedures take too long to be able to act quickly. The Italian government hopes that the declaration of a state of emergency will serve as a signal to the EU to take notice of the issue and take action.

The largest number of migrants arriving in Italy this year comes from the West African countries of Ivory Coast and Guinea, followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Tunisia, according to the Italian Ministry of the Interior. In comparison, last year, most of the people who made the crossing came from Libya and Tunisia. The migration route from Africa across the Mediterranean Sea is perilous. The boats are often barely seaworthy and overcrowded, with the Italian coastguard frequently rescuing people on board and drowning people.

Italian Prime Minister Meloni has been trying to reduce the number of migrants arriving in the country since taking office. In early 2023, the Prime Minister introduced a law to make it more difficult for aid organizations to rescue migrants from the sea. The Italian government believes that between 10% and 15% of the total number of migrants arriving in Italy are saved as a result of relief efforts.

The declaration of a state of emergency is a significant step for the Italian government, signaling the need for immediate action to address the growing migrant crisis. It is now up to the EU to take concrete steps to address the issue, with the Italian government calling for their support to resolve the problem of illegal migration in the Mediterranean.