Italy Says It Rescued 3,600 Migrants From the Sea in 48 Hours

ADD TIME ON GOOGLE

by

Sabrina Toppa

Open follow modal

Personalized Content

Sabrina Toppa

Follow this author to personalize your feed and get instant alerts.

FollowGo to your personalized feed

WHY FOLLOW?

Update your preferences in Account Settings

Close

May 15, 2015 8:53 AM CUT

A group of 300 sub-Saharan African migrants sit on board a boat during a rescue operation off the coast of Sicily, Italy on May 14, 2015.

A group of 300 sub-Saharan African migrants sit on board a boat during a rescue operation off the coast of Sicily, Italy on May 14, 2015.

A group of 300 sub-Saharan African migrants sit on board a boat during a rescue operation off the coast of Sicily, Italy on May 14, 2015.Alessandro Bianchi—Reuters

by

Sabrina Toppa

Open follow modal

Personalized Content

Sabrina Toppa

Follow this author to personalize your feed and get instant alerts.

FollowGo to your personalized feed

WHY FOLLOW?

Update your preferences in Account Settings

Close

May 15, 2015 8:53 AM CUT

Italy has rescued 3,600 migrants from rickety boats sailing from Africa to Europe in the past two days, officials said. Hundreds were taken to the Sicilian port of Catania.

The Interior Ministry expects human cargo to the southern European nation to increase by 30,000 to 200,000 this year, Reuters reports.

Many migrants embark from Libya, where a prevailing lawlessness creates conditions favorable to those seeking to profit from the demand for illegal passages to Europe.

This week, the European Union declared it would absorb an additional 20,000 refugees and more evenly disperse asylum seekers across member states.

The death toll from migrant boat journeys is expected to move beyond 2,000 in 2015. In early May, approximately 6,800 people were brought ashore to safety by European rescue missions.

[Reuters]

Boat Migrants Risk It All for New Life in Europe

Italian navy rescues asylum seekers traveling by boat off the coast of Africa in the Mediterranean Sea, June 7, 2014.

Italian navy rescues asylum seekers traveling by boat off the coast of Africa on the Mediterranean, June 7, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

A soldier using binoculars to spot boats carrying asylum seekers in the Mediterranean Sea, June 2.

A soldier using binoculars to spot boats carrying asylum seekers, June 2, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

Refugees rescued off a boat and carried onto an Italian navy ship on the Mediterranean Sea, June 7.

Refugees rescued off a boat and carried onto an Italian navy ship, June 7, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

Italian navy rescues asylum seekers traveling by boat off the coast of Africa, June 7.

Italian navy rescues asylum seekers traveling by boat off the coast of Africa, June 7, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

Italian soldier carries a Syrian child on a ship after the Italian navy rescued 443 Syrian asylum seekers off a fishing vessel, June 5.

Italian soldier carries a Syrian child on a ship after the Italian navy rescued 443 Syrian asylum seekers off a fishing vessel, June 5, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

Advertisement

Italian navy rescue asylum seekers

African asylum seekers rescued off boats and taken aboard an Italy navy ship, June 8, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

An empty dinghy with leftover lifesavers after the Italian navy rescued asylum seekers off the coast of Africa, June 7.

An empty dinghy with leftover lifesavers after the Italian navy rescued asylum seekers off the coast of Africa, June 7, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

Italian navy rescue asylum seekers

Syrian refugees sleeping on an Italian navy ship after being rescued from a fishing vessel carrying 443 Syrian asylum seekers, June 5, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

Advertisement

Syrian refugees on an Italian navy ship after being rescued from a fishing vessel carrying 443 Syrian asylum seekers, June 5.

Syrian refugees on an Italian navy ship after being rescued from a fishing vessel carrying 443 Syrian asylum seekers, June 5, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

Syrian refugees sleeping on an Italian navy ship after being rescued from a fishing vessel carrying 443 Syrian asylum seekers, June 5.

Syrian refugees sleeping on an Italian navy ship after being rescued from a fishing vessel carrying 443 Syrian asylum seekers, June 5, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

African asylum seekers rescued off boats and taken aboard an Italy navy ship, June 8.

African asylum seekers rescued off boats and taken aboard an Italy navy ship, June 8, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

Advertisement

African refugees rescued by the Italian navy at night off a rubber dinghy, June 8.

African refugees rescued by the Italian navy at night off a rubber dinghy, June 8, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

African asylum seekers rescued off boats and taken aboard an Italian navy ship, June 8.

African asylum seekers rescued off boats and taken aboard an Italian navy ship, June 8, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

African asylum seekers on board a rescue craft dispatched from an Italian navy ship, June

African asylum seekers on board a rescue craft dispatched from an Italian navy ship, June 7. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

Advertisement

Africa refugees on an Italian navy ship after being rescued at sea, June 8.

Africa refugees on an Italian navy ship after being rescued at sea, June 8, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

A mother and child on a Italian navy ship after being rescued from a fishing vessel carrying 443 Syrian asylum seekers, June 5.

A mother and child on a Italian navy ship after being rescued from a fishing vessel carrying 443 Syrian asylum seekers, June 5, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris

Abandoned boats graveyard in Lampedusa, May 29.

Abandoned boats graveyard in Lampedusa, May 29, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris