On a daily basis, tens of thousands if migrants and refugees try to make the crossing between Africa and Europe and many of them drown in the attempt. Although the majority of the migrants are Syrians, Iraqis and Eritreans, a substantial number of Nigerians searching for a better life in Europe are also among them.
Over the weekend, about 500 migrants were rescued in seven operations launched at the weekend in the Mediterranean. According to the Italian authorities, as of yesterday, four of the rescue operations had already wound up but the others were still ongoing.
An Italian coastguard official said: “Saturday was quiet on the whole but now there is further movement. We have had several interventions, one by a ship belonging to medical charity MSF, two coastguard units as well as an Italian naval ship and a ship belonging to the European Union (EU) Navfor Med.”
He added that the migrants mainly came from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Sierra Leone and left Libya three days earlier but were rescued about 80km off the Libyan coast. EU Navfor Med is a military operation launched at the end of June to identify, capture and dispose of vessels and rescue migrants undertaking risky journeys in a desperate bid to try and get to Europe from war-ravaged Syria and other trouble spots.
EU Navfor Med is equipped with four ships, including an Italian aircraft carrier and four planes and is manned by 1,318 troops from 22 European countries. European leaders have agreed to boost aid for Syria’s neighbours, including $1bn through United Nations agencies, in a bid to mitigate the refugee influx into Europe.
Some 500,000 people have come to Europe so far this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration, many of them taking perilous journeys across the Mediterranean on inflatable dinghies. More than 2,800 people have died or disappeared making the crossing since January.
Meanwhile, up to 20,000 people demonstrated in the Belgian capital Brussels yesterday in support of refugees, demanding they be welcomed and treated properly. Marchers carried banners reading Refugees Welcome, while many tweeted messages of support and encouragement.
Police said some 15,000 people took part, gathering near the Gare du Nord train station close to what is known as the Foreigners Office, where migrants must submit their papers and applications for asylum. In a nearby park, local people have built a tent village in recent weeks to offer food, clothing and shelter for the many migrants fleeing conflict and upheaval in Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Eritrea and Afghanistan.
Belgium has a large immigrant community and the recent influx has largely been tolerated but the centre-right government has faced criticism that it has not done enough. Authorities say they are doing everything possible given the numbers involved but insist the rules on asylum must be followed.
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