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Italians Rescue Thousands From Teeming Migrant Boats Italians Rescue Thousands From Teeming Migrant Boats
(3 months later)
ROME — Italy has rescued about 5,200 people and recovered three bodies from overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean Sea since early Thursday, officials said Sunday. ROME — Italy has rescued about 5,200 people and recovered three bodies from overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean Sea since early Thursday, officials said Sunday.
Calm seas have created an opportunity for this latest wave of migrants who have left North African shores for Italy over the past three days, an Italian Navy spokesman said. Merchant ships and a Maltese vessel aided the navy in the rescue efforts.Calm seas have created an opportunity for this latest wave of migrants who have left North African shores for Italy over the past three days, an Italian Navy spokesman said. Merchant ships and a Maltese vessel aided the navy in the rescue efforts.
A merchant tanker recovered three bodies from one of the migrants’ boats, the spokesman said, adding that he had no details about the dead.A merchant tanker recovered three bodies from one of the migrants’ boats, the spokesman said, adding that he had no details about the dead.
Three merchant ships took aboard a total of 700 migrants, a navy statement said, and it was taking them to ports in Sicily.Three merchant ships took aboard a total of 700 migrants, a navy statement said, and it was taking them to ports in Sicily.
The surge in the arrival of migrants is straining the ability of the Italian Navy to patrol the waters between Africa and Italy on its own. It has prompted officials in Sicily, where most of the migrants are taken, to call for more European support. “Europe can’t just turn its back on us,” Lillo Firetto, mayor of the Sicilian port city of Porto Empedocle, said in a television interview on Sunday. “This isn’t just Sicily’s border, but it’s Europe’s border, too.”The surge in the arrival of migrants is straining the ability of the Italian Navy to patrol the waters between Africa and Italy on its own. It has prompted officials in Sicily, where most of the migrants are taken, to call for more European support. “Europe can’t just turn its back on us,” Lillo Firetto, mayor of the Sicilian port city of Porto Empedocle, said in a television interview on Sunday. “This isn’t just Sicily’s border, but it’s Europe’s border, too.”
Italy has repeatedly asked for more European Union countries to join the sea patrols, but so far only Slovenia has chipped in, offering one ship for two months late last year.Italy has repeatedly asked for more European Union countries to join the sea patrols, but so far only Slovenia has chipped in, offering one ship for two months late last year.
The stepped-up patrols began last October after 366 migrants fleeing African countries drowned when their boat capsized a mile from Sicily.The stepped-up patrols began last October after 366 migrants fleeing African countries drowned when their boat capsized a mile from Sicily.
After that episode, the European Union pledged nearly $41 million in emergency funds, mainly for financing immigration facilities.After that episode, the European Union pledged nearly $41 million in emergency funds, mainly for financing immigration facilities.
The number of migrants who have reached Italy by boat this year has already topped the total of more than 40,000 for the whole of 2013. The pace of arrivals is on track to exceed the record of 62,000 set in 2011.The number of migrants who have reached Italy by boat this year has already topped the total of more than 40,000 for the whole of 2013. The pace of arrivals is on track to exceed the record of 62,000 set in 2011.
Two-thirds of the migrants leave Italy for other European Union countries, the Interior Ministry said.Two-thirds of the migrants leave Italy for other European Union countries, the Interior Ministry said.