In 3 days: 10,000 arrivals in Lampedusa, Frontex: discounted trips offered to migrants
In just three days, there has been a sharp increase in migrant arrivals in Lampedusa, with 10 thousand arrivals counted between Monday and Wednesday. This brings the total number of arrivals since January 1st to 125,928, nearly double the 66,164 recorded during the same period in 2022. The number of arrivals has already surpassed the 105,131 entries in Italy for the whole of last year. If this trend continues, it is predicted that 2023 will become a record-breaking year for migrant arrivals, surpassing the previous record of 181,000 arrivals in 2016. These Italian figures are consistent with those reported by Frontex, which states that irregular border crossings in the EU have increased by 18% in the first eight months of 2023, reaching a total of over 232,350, the highest count for January to August since 2016. The Central Mediterranean route accounts for the majority of these crossings, with a nearly doubled count of 114,562 crossings compared to the first eight months of 2022. Frontex also warns of an ongoing increase in migration pressure on the Central Mediterranean route, with smugglers offering lower prices for migrants departing from Libya and Tunisia in a highly competitive context among criminal groups. Approximately one-third of the migrants arriving in Italy by sea come from three African countries: Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Tunisia. Other significant countries of origin include Egypt, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, and Pakistan. The number of unaccompanied minors is also concerning, with 11,630 arriving so far this year compared to 14,004 for all of last year. In line with the increase in arrivals, the number of migrants hosted in the reception system is also growing significantly, with 136,632 individuals accommodated, an increase of nearly 40,000 people compared to last year. The majority are hosted in reception centers (99,849), while 34,761 stay in the Sai system activated with municipalities, and 2,022 are in hotspots. Lombardy currently hosts the highest number of migrants with 17,430, followed by Emilia Romagna, Piedmont, and Lazio. Unaccompanied minors comprise a chapter on their own, with 21,000 hosted in dedicated centers for individuals under 18. This count includes Ukrainian migrants who arrived following the Russian invasion, with 42% being 17-year-olds and 87% being male. One-quarter of the minors are Egyptian, while Ukrainians represent 20%. The region of Sicily hosts the largest number of minors, followed by Lombardy and Emilia Romagna. Lastly, the article highlights the Dublin Regulation, which assigns responsibility for a migrant to the country of first arrival. Out of 4,015 requests for transfers of Dublin cases made by Italy to other EU countries, only 22 transfers have been carried out in the first eight months of this year. Likewise, out of 23,220 requests made by other countries to Italy for transfers of migrants who were registered in Italy, only 46 transfers have been completed. Overall, out of the commitment to transfer 8,289 migrants from Italy to 13 participating states via the relocation mechanism between June 10, 2022, and August 31, 2023, only 1,159 have actually left the country.
In tre giorni 10 mila arrivi a Lampedusa, Frontex: viaggi offerti ai migranti a prezzi più bassi
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