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Italian navy rescues more than 700 migrants off coast of Sicily Italian navy rescues more than 700 migrants off coast of Sicily
(about 7 hours later)
More than 700 migrants have been rescued by the Italian navy and coastguard in waters near Sicily, as boats continue to arrive in a wave that has not relented despite the deaths of hundreds of people in the Mediterranean this month.More than 700 migrants have been rescued by the Italian navy and coastguard in waters near Sicily, as boats continue to arrive in a wave that has not relented despite the deaths of hundreds of people in the Mediterranean this month.
Five boats packed with 705 migrants, some of them children, had been calling for help from the Italian authorities since Thursday evening, the coastguard said. Five boats packed with 705 migrants, some of them children, had been calling for help from the Italian authorities since Thursday evening, the coastguard said. The rescues came as EU leaders, in Brussels at a summit dominated by the NSA spying row, were criticised by human rights groups for failing to take immediate and concrete action to tackle the crisis. "The scale of the tragedy in the Mediterranean means we have to act now," said José Manuel Barroso, president of the European commission.
The rescues came as EU leaders, in Brussels at a summit dominated by the NSA spying row, were criticised by human rights groups for failing to take immediate and concrete action to tackle the crisis. "The scale of the tragedy in the Mediterranean means we have to act now," said José Manuel Barroso, president of the European commission.
But discussion of the "concrete changes" called for by organisations such as Human Rights Watch was postponed until a summit in December, when a new migration taskforce will report back.But discussion of the "concrete changes" called for by organisations such as Human Rights Watch was postponed until a summit in December, when a new migration taskforce will report back.
The lack of action "painfully shows that the expressions of sadness and solidarity were nothing more than crocodile tears", Nicolas Beger, a spokesman for Amnesty International, told the Associated Press.The lack of action "painfully shows that the expressions of sadness and solidarity were nothing more than crocodile tears", Nicolas Beger, a spokesman for Amnesty International, told the Associated Press.
Enrico Letta, the Italian prime minister, said he considered it sufficient that leaders had agreed on the concept of European solidarity as crucial to the handling of the problem. The country has complained of being left on its own to try to cope with what it considers a European crisis. This month, it announced it was boosting its military presence in the strait of Sicily to intervene more quickly and more often to help boats in trouble, which are usually unseaworthy and horribly overcrowded. Enrico Letta, the Italian prime minister, said he considered it sufficient that leaders had agreed on the concept of European solidarity as crucial to the handling of the problem. The country has complained of being left on its own to try to cope with what it considers a European crisis. This month, it announced it was boosting its military presence in the strait of Sicily to intervene more quickly and more often to help boats in trouble, which are usually unseaworthy and horribly overcrowded. On Thursday night, about 200 people, including more than 50 children, had been taken to an overcrowded reception centre on the island of Lampedusa, said a spokeswoman for Save the Children Italy. The situation at the reception centre, which has enough space to accommodate only about 250 to 300 people, had improved since the emergency prompted by the twin tragedies earlier this month, when its population rose above 1,000, she said.
"In general they are either old – 'bangers of the sea', as we call them – or they are a kind of rubber boat, obviously completely unsuitable for sea crossings like this," said the coastguard's Marco di Milla earlier this month. "Most importantly they are crowded. On a boat ... which should carry a maximum of 10 people, there can be 100 people, or even more."
On Thursday night, about 200 people, including more than 50 children, had been taken to an overcrowded reception centre on the island of Lampedusa, said a spokeswoman for Save the Children Italy. The situation at the reception centre, which has enough space to accommodate only about 250 to 300 people, had improved since the emergency prompted by the twin tragedies earlier this month, when its population rose above 1,000, she said.
The deaths of more than 360 Eritreans on 3 October sent shockwaves across the EU, and the outrage grew when, just over a week later, another disaster left 36 Syrians dead and many more missing.The deaths of more than 360 Eritreans on 3 October sent shockwaves across the EU, and the outrage grew when, just over a week later, another disaster left 36 Syrians dead and many more missing.
On Friday – before the most recent arrivals – there were 518 people present at the Lampedusa centre.On Friday – before the most recent arrivals – there were 518 people present at the Lampedusa centre.
But the numbers are fluctuating daily and it would need only "two more landings" for it to become acute again, the spokeswoman warned.But the numbers are fluctuating daily and it would need only "two more landings" for it to become acute again, the spokeswoman warned.
According to the UN's refugee agency, more than 32,000 people have made the perilous sea crossing from the northern African coast to Italy this year.According to the UN's refugee agency, more than 32,000 people have made the perilous sea crossing from the northern African coast to Italy this year.
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