On the Easter weekend alone, around 2,000 migrants arrived in Italy via the Mediterranean.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has now declared a state of emergency.
Rome/Munich – The issue of migration seems to have receded into the background compared to the last few years.
But appearances are deceptive.
Italy, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, decided on a nationwide state of emergency.
This is valid for six months and is intended to make more money available to the southern regions in particular.
Most recently, around 2,000 migrants reached the Italian Mediterranean island of Lampedusa over the Easter weekend.
Italy declares a nationwide state of emergency – the number of migrants quadruples
The emergency should initially help the affected regions in southern Italy with five million euros, as the Ansa news agency reported on Tuesday (April 11).
In addition, the establishment of new reception centers for refugees should be made easier.
In Italy, the discussion about migration has come up frequently in recent weeks.
The Ministry of the Interior in Rome counted more than 31,000 people this year who arrived in Italy via the dangerous route across the Mediterranean.
In the same period last year, there were only around 7,900.
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Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has declared a nationwide state of emergency.
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
A number of people keep trying to reach the Italian islands of Lampedusa and Sicily as well as the Italian mainland or Malta with unsuitable boats from Tunisia and Libya via the Mediterranean Sea.
Authorities registered more than 40 landings with a total of around 2,000 people over the Easter weekend, as Ansa reported on Tuesday.
According to its own statements, the Italian coast guard carried out two operations on Monday evening.
State of emergency in Italy – initial reception center for migrants on Lampedusa overcrowded
An overcrowded fishing boat with around 800 people on board was intercepted by the emergency services off the coast of Sicily and was on its way to the port of Catania.
Another overcrowded boat with around 400 people on board was reportedly found.
There were also shipwrecks during the crossings during the holidays.
The German aid organization Resqship, for example, reported on such an incident.
According to the organization, they recovered two bodies and rescued 22 migrants during a rescue operation.
As the rescued reported, their boat was initially in distress and later went under.
18 people were still missing, Ansa continued.
The initial reception center on Lampedusa is again overcrowded after the weekend.
In the migrant camp, which can actually accommodate a maximum of almost 400 people, more than 1800 people are now housed.
As Italy declares a state of emergency, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has declared the need for a wall.
For him, it is "a necessary instrument for a land border," as he said in an interview.
(vk/dpa)
List of rubrics: © Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa