- ROME, DEC 27 - The prefect of the Sicilian city of
Agrigento on December 23 warned that a record 35,000 migrants
landed on the island of Lampedusa in 2021, compared to nearly
20,000 in 2020. The island's hotspot has currently reached its
capacity limit, the prefect warned.
The tragedy of the many who are forced to flee war and famine
and now a pandemic that in many countries can't be controlled
through vaccination campaigns has gained the limelight in Italy
during the end-of-year holidays with the sheer force of numbers
and images of the distraught faces of those disembarking from
rescue ships. The prefect of Agrigento, Maria Rita Cocciufa, has
reassured that the number of those who have tested positive for
Covid-19 "has so far been quite limited". However, arrivals are
continuing, despite the cold weather, also in other areas like
southern Sardinia and Spain.
Record number of arrivals on Lampedusa, prefect says
The prefect of Agrigento told an end-of-year press conference
that "we have reached some 35,000 arrivals of migrants on
Lampedusa. It was an even heavier year than 2020, when we
reported nearly 20,000 arrivals".
"As far as the management of immigrants in relation to Covid is
concerned, so far no significant number of infections has been
recorded. The number of cases, until now, has been quite
contained. Migrants are controlled scrupulously", the prefect
told reporters.
Problems in Agrigento due to growing number of arrivals in the
last 2 years
Speaking about the growing number of arrivals, Cocciufa went on
to say that "we have many concerns over the management of this
phenomenon which has taken significant proportions". "Agrigento
has always been a province of landings, but objectively over the
last two years there has been a growing trend that has created
quite a few problems and we are getting organized to safeguard
the health of migrants and our citizens", she concluded. "The
people of Agrigento, in this respect, are understanding. No
intolerance has ever been registered towards migrants - the
objective is to give security to citizens and migrants".
(Picture shows a group of migrants disembarking at Lampedusa's
harbour after being rescued at sea. PHOTO/ARCHIVE/ANSA/ELIO
DESIDERIO).
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