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Grandi (UNHCR): “As emergency unfolds in Lampedusa, stop politicizing the tragedy of migrants”

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 16 – “As an emergency unfolds in Lampedusa nobody should politicize the tragedy of refugees and migrants. Real solutions are needed: to finally adopt a shared, predictable European response and to reverse the decrease in aid in Africa and beyond. Otherwise, more Lampedusa will happen”, the Un High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi said today, following the arrival of more than 8,000 migrants in the Italian island over the past three days.

 

European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen is due to visit the island on Sunday after Italy asked for EU help. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the country was being placed under “unsustainable pressure” as a result of the migrant influx. Ms Meloni is pushing for a European Union naval blockade to prevent boats from crossing the Mediterranean to reach Italian shores.

The Italian Red Cross has said it is currently dealing with about 2,500 people at a reception centre designed for 400 arrivals. Meanwhile, the Mayor of Lampedusa, Filippo Mannino, is expected in New York to take part to meetings focusing on the Sdgs.

Nearly 126,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, which is about double the number for the same period in 2022. Ms Meloni said she was calling on Ms von der Leyen “to personally realize the gravity of the situation we face” and to “immediately accelerate” the implementation of an agreement with Tunisia, a country that has become the main departure point for African migrants attempting to reach Europe.

The EU deal, which was signed in July, is backed up by €110m ($118m; £90m) of EU cash to stop smuggling, strengthen borders and return migrants. The surge in arrivals led to protests by Lampedusa’s residents on Saturday who demonstrated against plans to build a new tent camp to host the migrants. (@OnuItalia)

 

OnuItalia
OnuItaliahttps://onuitalia.com
Il giornale Italiano delle Nazioni Unite. Ha due redazioni, una a New York, l’altra a Roma.

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