2,000 Refugees Escape to Italy; 1,500 More Die Trying

Posted by Kaylee K on Thursday, September 8, 2011 Under: Europe
From IAFR.org post dated Aug. 16, 2011, origin: Italy.

Over 2,000 refugees arrive on Italian shores in the past 3 days
1,500 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa

The UNHCR reports that over 50,000 people (including many women and children) have arrived in Italy in the past 8 months as they flee violence and uncertainty in North Africa.

It is estimated that more than 1,500 people have died this year while attempting to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa to Italy.

Over 2,000 refugees and migrants have landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa in the past 3 days.

Two boats arrived in Italy today. One boat carrying 280 desperate people arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa from North Africa. A second boat carrying 56 Afghan refugees arrived on Italy's eastern shore, presumably from Greece.

Sources: UN News Centre, Reuters Africa, UPI, Taiwan News

In : Europe 


Tags: italy  "horn of africa"  refugees 

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