Italy rescues more than 1,100 migrants in rafts south of Sicily

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters



ROME (Reuters) - The Italian navy has rescued more than 1,100 migrants from nine large rafts in the waters south of Sicily, the latest arrivals from North Africa.

Patrol helicopters identified the overcrowded rafts on Wednesday and four navy vessels participated in the rescue which ended early on Thursday, a statement said. The navy gave no details about the nationalities of the migrants.


Read more: http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCABREA150D920140206

[JustAnotherGen]

1. More info on the overall situation

http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/europe/49706-massive-refugee-influx-italy-official

Immigration charities estimate that between 17,000 and 20,000 migrants have died at sea trying to reach Europe over the past 20 years, often crossing on rickety fishing boats or rubber dinghies.

Italy, one of the main landing points, launched a military and humanitarian operation to deal with the influx in October, after hundreds of migrants drowned in two shipwreck tragedies near the island of Lampedusa.

Since then, it has saved more than 8,000 people from the sea, the defense ministry said last month. – Rappler.com

Not from either article - but there is a push to reduce the amount of time these human beings are allowed to stay in detention centers - its currently 18 months. Not good - tey are barely able to get these folks feet on the ground or onwards with safe passage at 18 months now. Decreasing the time . . . I understand it. The economic situation is bad there - it didn't go away - we just aren't hearing about it in the international news anymore.

But in the meantime - if the rest of the EU is resting on its laurels - I'm glad to see our tax dollars we pay there to helping human beings in distress.