Rome - The small Italian island of Lampedusa is contending with an influx of migrant boats arriving from North Africa, with the number reaching as high as 7,000 people, equivalent to the entire local population. The island's reception center, designed for fewer than 400 individuals, became overwhelmed, forcing men, women, and children to sleep outside on makeshift plastic cots, often wrapped in metallic emergency blankets.
Recent favorable weather conditions have led to a significant increase in arrivals across Italy, with over 5,000 people landing in the country on Tuesday and nearly 3,000 on Wednesday, according to updated figures from the interior ministry. Lampedusa, positioned in the Mediterranean between Tunisia, Malta, and Sicily, often serves as the initial destination for many migrants aspiring to reach the European Union.
Lampedusa Mayor Filippo Mannino voiced concerns, noting that in the last 48 hours, approximately 7,000 people have arrived on the island, which has traditionally welcomed migrants. He emphasized that the island is now facing a crisis. Matteo Villa from the ISPI think tank described the number of arrivals over 48 hours as an "absolute record."
Local authorities declared a state of emergency, and tensions flared during food distribution at the center, leading to police intervention. On Thursday, more migrants arrived, but many were transferred to Sicily for processing, and the Red Cross reported that the situation was "more under control."
Cots were set up inside and outside the Lampedusa center for overnight accommodation, while during the day, others sought shelter from the sun's heat in the shade between the buildings. Some young men ventured into Lampedusa's historic town center, with a few climbing the high perimeter fence. Several expressed hunger while waiting in line for ice cream.
Most migrants arriving on Lampedusa are rescued at sea by the coastguard from fragile boats. Tragically, many do not survive the perilous journey, and this year alone, more than 2,000 people have lost their lives attempting to cross from North Africa to Italy and Malta, according to the UN migration agency. Among the recent casualties was a five-month-old baby who reportedly fell into the water early Wednesday.
Lampedusa's migrant "hotspot" has faced ongoing challenges for years, with humanitarian organizations highlighting shortages of water, food, and medical care. The Italian Red Cross took over management of the center in June, pledging to provide a more "dignified" reception. Francesca Basile, the organization's head of migration, acknowledged the complexity of the situation but expressed ongoing efforts to return to normalcy by providing food and necessary provisions.
Earlier this month, Italy's hard-right government allocated 45 million euros ($48 million) to Lampedusa to assist with the migrant situation. However, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, elected a year ago on a promise to address mass migration, has called for more support from the European Union.
The European Commission has already offered 14 million euros in emergency aid and deployed hundreds of border, security, and immigration officials on the ground. They expressed readiness to support Italy.
This year, nearly 126,000 migrants have arrived on Italy's shores, surpassing the 66,500 arrivals during the same period last year. While the numbers have not yet exceeded those of 2016 when over 181,000 migrants arrived during a surge in irregular migration to Europe, the issue of migration remains a significant political concern, especially with European Parliament elections approaching in June.
Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister and member of the anti-immigration League party, referred to the recent arrivals as "an act of war" against Italy. Prime Minister Meloni emphasized the need to address demographic challenges through means other than migration, during a meeting with right-wing ally Viktor Orban in Budapest, asserting that defending traditional values was part of a broader effort to protect humanity and individual rights.