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Italian security sources announced that 294 illegal immigrants had been rescued from the Mediterranean and taken to the port of Pozzallo on the island of Sicily.
The Italian AKI quoted the sources as saying that the "Ocean Viking" ship belonging to the French-German NGO (SOS Mederini) arrived in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo, carrying 294 migrants, including women and children, the youngest of whom is only one year old, in addition to 127 minors.
The sources indicated that the migrants were rescued during four difficult operations in international waters off the Libyan coast, after the migrants spent days at sea in difficult weather conditions.
In turn, IOM search and rescue coordinator Luisa Albera said that among the migrants on board the boat were 94 migrants who were rescued from an overcrowded rubber boat and who witnessed 12 other migrants disappear in the waves, as 15 migrants ended up in the water while trying to cross at night, but three Only them managed to get on the boat.
In this context, the Mayor of Pozzallo Roberto Amatuna said that with the advent of the summer arrivals of immigrants are expected to increase.. It is a trend we have known for years and this year could worsen, calling on the government to put the issue on its agenda and start addressing it urgently.
The Mediterranean is witnessing continuous attempts by hundreds of illegal immigrants to reach Europe via Italy, Spain and others, where thousands have died at sea.
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