Source/Credit News&Photo: The Times / Malta /
Remembering migrants who died at sea – crossing over from North Africa to Europe – during an ecumenical service in Grand Harbour last June. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Nearly 2,000 immigrants died in the Mediterranean during the first seven months of this year, with 87 per cent losing their lives in the Sicilian channel, according to Fortress Europe.
The Italy-based organisation, which monitors migration, issued estimates yesterday on the death of 1,931 migrants. The figures come as the Italian island of Lampedusa struggles with an influx of 2,000 immigrants who arrived over the weekend.
The transfer of hundreds of the migrants from Lampedusa to the Italian mainland started late yesterday. Over the weekend Malta refused to take 300 immigrants who were picked up by an Italian warship near Lampedusa. They were taken to Taranto instead.
Categories: Europe, Human Rights, Humanity First