The Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, Italy’s southernmost island, has been overwhelmed with a record number of migrants in the past 24 hours, prompting an urgent call to action by the island’s mayor, Filippo Mannino.
According to local media, more than 2,400 migrants have arrived on the island in the last day, leading to a record 68 landings. With the island’s reception center only able to accommodate 400 people, the existing resources have been strained to the limit.
“We have never seen anything like this, with dozens and dozens of small boats escorted or hooked to the rescue units in front of the port, and others that manage to arrive directly,” said Mannino in an interview with Italian media. “Today we will probably reach 100 landings, numbers that are no longer sustainable on this island. We need the Defense to intervene.”
As the number of migrants arriving exceeds capacity, and Alfano also warned that Italy is committed to providing humanitarian aid and continuing to save lives at risk of making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean. With the influx of migrants putting pressure on the country’s immigration system, the Italian government is also being forced to consider further action to address the issue.
Information from EFE
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