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Added on the 18/09/2023 22:21:46 - Copyright : France 24 EN
The Italian island of Lampedusa is struggling to cope with a surge in migrant boats from North Africa. The tiny island is hosting more than 7,000 people, which is equivalent to the entire local population. Men, women and children were forced to sleep on makeshift camping stretchers as the local migrant reception centre was overwhelmed, built to house fewer than 400 people. Almost 124,000 migrants have arrived on Italy's shores so far this year, up from 65,500 in the same period last year.
The EU has promised immediate support to Italy as the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa struggles with a surge in migrant arrivals, but has failed to clarify what new measures its so-called '10-point plan for Lampedusa' includes.
The European Union presented Sunday an emergency plan for Italy to help it handle migrant arrivals after a record number of people landed on its island of Lampedusa over the past week.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni visit Lampedusa following a recent surge in migrant arrivals to the small Italian island. During her visit, von der Leyen said irregular migration was a "European challenge" needing a "European answer", offering a 10-point plan to help Rome deal with the crisis. This week a record of around 8,500 people -- more than the island's entire local population -- have arrived in around 200 boats, according to the UN migration agency. IMAGES
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived on the island of Lampedusa on Sunday morning amid growing tensions related to a surge in migrant arrivals.
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