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Latest update: 14/02/2011
- immigration - Italy - Tunisia
Fleeing Tunisian migrants land on Italian island
Almost 1,000 Tunisians seeking refuge after last month's regime change arrived overnight on the Italian island of Lampedusa. Rome has declared a humanitarian emergency and freed-up funds to handle the influx.
AFP - Nearly 1,000 Tunisian migrants arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa overnight, where the government has already declared a humanitarian emergency, coast guards said Sunday.
"Since midnight, 977 people arrived on Lampedusa," the harbour master on Lampedusa, Antonio Morana, said as two more boats approached the tiny island off Sicily.
Thousands of Tunisians have been sailing across the Mediterranean in the wake of the North African country's revolution a month ago.
Police estimated more than 2,000 illegal immigrants still remained on the island on Sunday despite an airlift put in place by the authorities to move them to the mainland.
"The situation is very difficult," Morana said, saying boats were arriving non-stop.
A calm sea and good weather has favoured conditions for the would-be migrants.
Most were packed into small fishing boats intercepted by coast guards and taken to Lampedusa.
Hundreds have had to sleep in the open at the port because of a lack of facilities on the island, which also suffers shortages of fresh water.
Rome on Saturday declared a humanitarian emergency.
The government said the decision would enable civil protection officers "to take immediate action needed to control this phenomenon and assist citizens who have fled from North Africa."
In particular, the move will enable the central government to release funds for local authorities in areas which have been inundated by the wave of refugees, most of whom have fled to Lampedusa.
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(9) Reactions
humanitarian
anybody you see risking his or her life into stuff a ting like this we most have to help and understand them, please give dem senghen residential and allow them to be free because we are all human
Why are they leaving?
No-one seems to ask or answer the obvious questions - why are they leaving if their revolution has succeeded, and why are we not sending them back?
Why are they leaving?
I thought they got what they wanted and ousted the president. Shouldn't they be happy and free in their wonderful newly free country? Unintended consequences of Mob Rule.
Italians are good people
Tunisions helping immigrants seems very normal because all Italians would be glad to help others such as these immigrants
GOD BLESS. iTALY especially those in Castillamarra Di stibia (my home where the Starace villa. Stands
Why
If this is great for Tunisians then why are they leaving?
immigrants illegals in italy
do not ask us to pay them send all back;we are not the worlds bank until we return all to whence they came it will continue.
they are spongers we have enough.
Im from tunisia and I blleev
Im from tunisia and I blleev wats they say beecooss they do any theng to feed are famly and ther is ni djoob in tunisia its to ........
Tunisian immigrants and Italy's reaction
The fact is there.Thousands of Tunisians are leaving the country some of them might come back ,most of them might never come to their homeland.Ihink the international community should investigte more on this issue. Tunisians are left on their own. I'm a Tunisian ,was studying in Heidelberg for 7 years, couldn't have a job as a german teacher though I finished my studies. I could work in Tunisia or whereelse and help providing knowledge or assistance in different levels or sectors.Work ,good Jobs and certain privileges are shared under certain cercles.Credits banking privileges are concentrated in hands of few influent people in Tunisia. Politicians are just there to defend the intersts of a couple of families and the will be no real serious change as long as the power is in same hands. Those who have the chains of hotels , industrial , textiles eamd confection centers are still the owners of economical decisions. I urge foreign investors to connumicate with locals and deal directly with competent representatives avoid to treat with influent gouvernment rulers or opposition leaders of worker unions and built a large wide range of options of communication with the Tunisian modern civil society to get sure of results they would like to reach .I wished I could be involved inany procedure of integration and avoid diffrent forms of marginalisarion ,benefit of support of any non gouvernamental instance to help providing assistnce andknow how. I HAVE BEEN DREANING OF PARTNERSHIP with any Tour Operator in the tourism branch writen thousands of cooperation inquiries to different travel agencies as a guide the as a travel agency manager in Tunisia, but Iwas and I'm still challenged by old influent clans .One of the exanples is the TUI Partner in Tunisia Tunisie Voyage and its owner Mr Bousarsar Adel.Within years this man owner of this famous travelagency is monopolizing tourism sector within last years his has bee pacting with Ben Ali's Family's member Matri . We were treated like slaves each time we wanted to communicate with our cruise clients. Costa Cruise guests were all transported by a single and a unique travel agency Tunisie Voyage and the money ,the entire benefice went into the 'Islamic Matri Bank' .I have been denouncing this behaviour ,our guests were a hostage of Costa cruise management who explained their position no to allow guests to chosse their travel services with different local travel agencies 'for security reasons'unfounded arguments.
I believe that transparency is a condition of real democracy and Europeans and partners of Tunisia should manifest this to be credible partners of a nation that is leading on of most brillant revolution on earth.
And thus, the "story" ( I
And thus, the "story" ( I call it prophecy) by Jean Raspail in "Camp of the Saints" begins to come to life in Italy. I suggest you all educate yourselves and read the book.