FAZ - Under tighter
controls of the Italian Coast Guard, more than 700 refugees between
Sicily and the coast of Tunisia have been taken up. The refugees were
on their way to Italy with four cutters.
The Italian Navy has
once again saved hundreds of boat people in the Mediterranean. More
than 700 people, including dozens of women and children, have been
taken up in five operations in the waters between Sicily and North
Africa in the early hours of Friday, authorities said.
The refugees were on
their way to Italy in four cutters. According to the Italian
broadcast, one person is being missed after the rescue of 90
passengers of one cutter by a Maltese freighter. The refugees are
reported to be mostly from Syria. Around 200 people were brought
immediately to the Lampedusa detention centre, including 53 children
and 39 women. With the new arrivals, the number of inmates in the
camp rose to around 700 for a camp which is intended for 250 people.
Letta asks for
support
The European refugee
policy is currently subject at the EU summit in Brussels. Italy's
Prime Minister Enrico Letta calls for greater support for the
Euro-Mediterranean region and a revision of the European asylum
policy of the partner countries. Under current law, most asylum
seekers who do not arrive legally must remain in the EU country to
which they have come into the European Union.
Countries like Italy
and Greece which have been hit hard by the recession and the European
crisis are even more affected. This year, according to UN figures,
more than 32,000 people from Africa and the Middle East risk the
dangerous journey to southern Italy in often overcrowded boats. Two
weeks ago two ships sank in quick succession where approximately more
than 500 people drowned. Italy subsequently increased its maritime
surveillance in the region.
(Translated by Aylin
Satmaz)
