22 dead after ship carrying illegal immigrants capsizes
A boat carrying would-be immigrants to Italy capsized in the Mediterranean, killing at least 22 people and leaving dozens more missing.
The boat capsized off the coast of Tunisia and has focused attention on the dangers immigrants face when they attempt to slip into Europe, many on small, rickety boats.
The craft was heading from Tunisia to Italy with 70 Moroccans and five Tunisians aboard. Rescue teams saved at least 11 people, but 42 others were reported missing.
Reports did not specify where in Italy the boat was headed. But many aim for Lampedusa, an arid Italian island that is closer to Africa than Italy. As of Sunday, about 1,200 migrants were being held in a detention centre there, while a few hundred were flown back to Libya, where many of the trips originate.
An official for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees expressed concern about the immigrants. The office said it was still awaiting for a response to a request for access to the clandestine travellers.
“We recognise the very strong pressures that these continuing arrivals are generating, but all those who request asylum should have access to a fair procedure,” said Raymond Hall, the director of UNHCR’s regional office for Europe.
Italy’s Interior Under-secretary Alfredo Mantovano defended the policy.
“Sending illegal immigrants back by plane is a method we’ll use increasingly,” he said. “If they know they will be sent back, maybe they won’t set off.”
Relatively few of the thousands who try to slip into Italy by boat each year intend to stay in the country. Most hope to travel further north, to other European Union countries, such as Germany, that have proportionally larger immigrant populations.
Authorities have said they expected a rush of new arrivals before a joint crackdown by Italy and Libya. Italy has pledged to provide Libya with training and equipment to spot and stop the boats from heading out to sea.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini spoke by phone Monday to his Libyan counterpart, Abdel-Rahman Shalqam, the Rome ministry said. Shalqam has already talked to his Egyptian and Tunisian colleagues about the need for “full cooperation” to fight the problem, the ministry said.
