Italy declares migrant emergency

[Skip_In_Boulder]

Humanitarian crisis feared as thousands of north African migrants, mainly from Tunisia, flood tiny island of Lampedusa.



Italy has called a humanitarian emergency after thousands of migrants sailed across the Mediterranean from Tunisia, overwhelming authorities on a remote island.

"The cabinet today... has proclaimed a state of humanitarian emergency following the influx of the large number of citizens from North Africa," the government said in a statement on Saturday.

The statement said that the decision to call an official emergency 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 the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa.

The majority of the people have come from nearby Tunisia, in the wake of the country's revolution four weeks ago.

Nearly 4,000 migrants have landed in Italy since Wednesday, according to Antonio Morana, harbour master on the island.

Most were packed into small fishing boats that were intercepted by coast guards and then taken to Lampedusa where they were given blankets and received medical care after stepping off the boats.

Hundreds have had to sleep out in the open at the port because of a lack of facilities on the island, while others were taken to local hotels.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/02/20112122328974957.html

[virgogal]

1. What the hell? Now I am confused.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

2. The world is on the move

In more ways than one.

[Mojorabbit]

3. Off topic

Have the young men of the entire world gone to wearing jeans and hoodies? I hope they find a place to settle down and put roots if they are determined to leave their country.