Lampedusa is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea and Italy. Tunisia is the closest shore to Lampedusa at a distance of approximately 113 kilometres (70 mi) from Tunisia, and it is the southernmost point in Italy. Its population of approximately 4,500 subsists on fishing, agriculture and tourism. It has lately been known primarily for its role as an entry point to Europe for impoverished illegal immigrants from Africa.
Since the beginning of the year almost 15,000 illegal immigrants have arrived on the island swamping the island. From Lampedusa the immigrants hope to be to be transferred to mainland Italy from which they can travel to countries such as France, Germany, Holland and the UK.
Most of the immigrants arriving in Lampedusa make the trip from Tunisia from which they are said to be fleeing due to the unrest, but seeing as the unrests have mostly died down after the fall of Ben Ali it can be assumed these are economic refugees, hoping for a better life in Europe, but is Europe willing to give them a better life?
France has started border controls again to keep the immigrants out and Italy is planning on sending them straight back to Tunisia.
Since the beginning of the year almost 15,000 illegal immigrants have arrived on the island swamping the island. From Lampedusa the immigrants hope to be to be transferred to mainland Italy from which they can travel to countries such as France, Germany, Holland and the UK.
Most of the immigrants arriving in Lampedusa make the trip from Tunisia from which they are said to be fleeing due to the unrest, but seeing as the unrests have mostly died down after the fall of Ben Ali it can be assumed these are economic refugees, hoping for a better life in Europe, but is Europe willing to give them a better life?
France has started border controls again to keep the immigrants out and Italy is planning on sending them straight back to Tunisia.
101. A man who fled the unrest in Tunisia leaves the immigration centre to protest against being sent back to his country, on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 11, 2011. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stepped up calls on Saturday for Europe to help deal with the human tsumani of refugees and illegal immigrants from North Africa arriving in southern Italian islands in recent weeks. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
202. People fleeing the unrest in Tunisia arrive at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa as their compatriots look on from the wharf March 24, 2011. Almost 15,000 people have landed in Lampedusa since the beginning of the year, according to Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, exacerbating Italian fears that the upheavals in North Africa could unleash a wave of clandestine arrivals. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
303. A boy who fled the unrest in Tunisia is helped by the Italian police after arriving at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 24, 2011. Almost 15,000 people have landed in Lampedusa since the beginning of the year, according to Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, exacerbating Italian fears that the upheavals in North Africa could unleash a wave of clandestine arrivals. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
404. Women who fled the unrest in Tunisia sit on the wharf after arriving at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 24, 2011. Almost 15,000 people have landed in Lampedusa since the beginning of the year, according to Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, exacerbating Italian fears that the upheavals in North Africa could unleash a wave of clandestine arrivals. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
505. An Italian policeman (R) directs people who fled the unrest in Tunisia after their arrival at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 23, 2011. Almost 15,000 people have landed in Lampedusa since the beginning of the year, according to Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, exacerbating Italian fears that the upheavals in North Africa could unleash a wave of clandestine arrivals. Picture taken March 23, 2011. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
606. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia stand in line after arriving at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 23, 2011. Almost 15,000 people have landed in Lampedusa since the beginning of the year, according to Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, exacerbating Italian fears that the upheavals in North Africa could unleash a wave of clandestine arrivals. Picture taken March 23, 2011. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
707. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia carry wood to light a fire after arriving at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 23, 2011. The Italian Navy's amphibious transport dock MM San Marco arrived on Wednesday and will accommodate some 1,000 immigrants who have arrived in Lampedusa from Tunisia. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
808. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia stand at the wharf after arriving at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 23, 2011. The Italian Navy's amphibious transport dock MM San Marco arrived on Wednesday and will accommodate some 1,000 immigrants who have arrived in Lampedusa from Tunisia. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
909. Two men fleeing the unrest in Tunisia rest after arriving at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 25, 2011. An Italian navy ship arrived in Lampedusa on Wednesday to help move some of the thousands of migrants who have poured on to the tiny southern island from Tunisia during the turmoil in North Africa over recent months. Almost 15,000 people have landed in Lampedusa since the beginning of the year, according to Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, exacerbating Italian fears that the upheavals in North Africa could unleash a wave of clandestine arrivals. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
1010. People fleeing the unrest in Tunisia stand on the wharf after arriving at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 25, 2011. An Italian navy ship arrived in Lampedusa on Wednesday to help move some of the thousands of migrants who have poured on to the tiny southern island from Tunisia during the turmoil in North Africa over recent months. Almost 15,000 people have landed in Lampedusa since the beginning of the year, according to Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, exacerbating Italian fears that the upheavals in North Africa could unleash a wave of clandestine arrivals. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
1111. A fisherman gives fish to people fleeing the unrest in Tunisia on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 25, 2011. Italy will help Tunisia fight illegal migration to try to stem the flow of thousands of migrants following unrest in North Africa, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Friday. Residents of Lampedusa, a sleepy port which lives off fishing and tourism, have complained of being abandoned by the government in Rome as a reception centre on the island has been filled to overflowing. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
1212. People fleeing the unrest in Tunisia arrive at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa as a coast guard assists them at the harbour March 30, 2011. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
1313. A man fleeing unrest in Tunisia is escorted by Guardia di Finanza police officers as they arrive at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 30, 2011. Italy prepared to move thousands of illegal Tunisian migrants off Lampedusa on Wednesday after an outcry over the government's failure to solve a growing humanitarian crisis on the tiny southern island. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
1414. People fleeing unrest in Tunisia arrive at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, as they travel past the cruise liner Palladio at the harbour, March 30, 2011. Italy prepared to move thousands of illegal Tunisian migrants off Lampedusa on Wednesday after an outcry over the government's failure to solve a growing humanitarian crisis on the tiny southern island. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
1515. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi speaks after arriving at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 30, 2011. Italy prepared to move thousands of illegal Tunisian migrants off Lampedusa on Wednesday after an outcry over the government 's failure to solve a growing humanitarian crisis on the tiny southern island. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
1616. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia arrive at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa in their boats as their compatriots look on from the wharf March 30, 2011. Italy prepared to move thousands of illegal Tunisian migrants off Lampedusa on Wednesday after an outcry over the government's failure to solve a growing humanitarian crisis on the tiny southern island. About 19,000 have arrived on overloaded boats since the start of the year, when the fall of Tunisian President Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali loosened previously strict frontier controls and opened the way into Europe for thousands seeking work. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
1717. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia rest next to a fire after arriving on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 30, 2011. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
1818. People fleeing unrest in Tunisia wait to board the Excelsior cruise liner on the southern island of Lampedusa March 30, 2011. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised to clear thousands of illegal Tunisian migrants from Lampedusa by the weekend after an outcry over a humanitarian crisis on the tiny southern island. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
1919. People fleeing unrest in Tunisia wait on a wharf to board the Excelsior cruise liner on the southern island of Lampedusa March 30, 2011. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised to clear thousands of illegal Tunisian migrants from Lampedusa by the weekend after an outcry over a humanitarian crisis on the tiny southern island. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
2020. People fleeing unrest in Tunisia are checked by Italian Guardia di Finanza before boarding a cruise liner on the southern island of Lampedusa March 31, 2011. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised to clear thousands of illegal Tunisian migrants from Lampedusa by the weekend after an outcry over a humanitarian crisis on the tiny southern island. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
2121. People fleeing unrest in Tunisia wait before boarding a cruise liner to a different part of Italy, on the southern island of Lampedusa March 31, 2011. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised to clear thousands of illegal Tunisian migrants from Lampedusa by the weekend after an outcry over a humanitarian crisis on the tiny southern island. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
2222. People fleeing the unrest in Tunisia wait before boarding a cruise liner to a different part of Italy, on the southern island of Lampedusa March 31, 2011. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised to clear thousands of illegal Tunisian migrants from Lampedusa by the weekend after an outcry over a humanitarian crisis on the tiny southern island. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
2323. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia protest against conditions on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 31, 2011. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised to clear thousands of illegal Tunisian migrants from Lampedusa by the weekend after an outcry over a humanitarian crisis on the tiny southern island. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
2424. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia protest against conditions on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa March 31, 2011. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised to clear thousands of illegal Tunisian migrants from Lampedusa by the weekend after an outcry over a humanitarian crisis on the tiny southern island. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
2525. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia rest as they are watched by Italian Guardia di Finanza officers before boarding a cruise liner to a different part of Italy, on the southern island of Lampedusa March 31, 2011. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised to clear thousands of illegal Tunisian migrants from Lampedusa by the weekend after an outcry over a humanitarian crisis on the tiny southern island. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
2626. Refugees from north Africa are helped by Italian Guardia di Finanza officers as they arrive at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 6, 2011. More than 130 people were missing and at least 15 appeared to be dead after a boat carrying Eritrean and Somali refugees from Libya capsized south of Sicily early on Wednesday, coast guard officials said. Rescuers picked up 47 people, including a number of women and children, after the boat, which left Libya two days ago, sank at about 4:00 a.m. (0200 GMT) 40 miles (64 km) south of the island of Lampedusa. REUTERS/Vincenzo Tersigni/EIDON
2727. Italian Police and Guardia Costiera (Coast Guard) officers carry an injured refugee as he arrives on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 6, 2011. More than 130 people were missing and at least 15 appeared to be dead after a boat carrying Eritrean and Somali refugees from Libya capsized south of Sicily early on Wednesday, coast guard officials said. Rescuers picked up 47 people, including a number of women and children, after the boat, which left Libya two days ago, sank at about 4:00 a.m. (0200 GMT) 40 miles (64 km) south of the island of Lampedusa. REUTERS/Vincenzo Tersigni/EIDON
2828. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia arrive at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 8, 2011. Italy and France agreed on Friday to carry out joint patrols of Tunisia's coast to stem a growing wave of migrants heading to Europe to flee turmoil in North Africa, Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said. The agreement is a first conciliatory step between the two countries, who have quarrelled over how to deal with thousands of mostly Tunisian migrants who have landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa, many hoping to proceed to France. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
2929. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia arrive at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 8, 2011. Italy and France agreed on Friday to carry out joint patrols of Tunisia's coast to stem a growing wave of migrants heading to Europe to flee turmoil in North Africa, Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said. The agreement is a first conciliatory step between the two countries, who have quarrelled over how to deal with thousands of mostly Tunisian migrants who have landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa, many hoping to proceed to France. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
3030. Smoke is seen coming out from the immigration centre on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 11, 2011. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stepped up calls on Saturday for Europe to help deal with the human tsumani of refugees and illegal immigrants from North Africa arriving in southern Italian islands in recent weeks. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
3131. A man who fled the unrest in Tunisia leaves the immigration centre to protest against being sent back to his country, on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 11, 2011. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stepped up calls on Saturday for Europe to help deal with the human tsumani of refugees and illegal immigrants from North Africa arriving in southern Italian islands in recent weeks. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
3232. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia leave the immigration centre to protest against being sent back to their country, on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 11, 2011. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stepped up calls on Saturday for Europe to help deal with the human tsumani of refugees and illegal immigrants from North Africa arriving in southern Italian islands in recent weeks. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
3333. Police stop the people who fled the unrest in Tunisia from leaving the immigration centre during their protest against being sent back to their country, on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 11, 2011. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stepped up calls on Saturday for Europe to help deal with the human tsumani of refugees and illegal immigrants from North Africa arriving in southern Italian islands in recent weeks. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
3434. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia leave the immigration centre to protest against being sent back to their country, on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 11, 2011. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stepped up calls on Saturday for Europe to help deal with the human tsumani of refugees and illegal immigrants from North Africa arriving in southern Italian islands in recent weeks. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
3535. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia return to the immigration centre after their protest against being sent back to their country, on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 11, 2011. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stepped up calls on Saturday for Europe to help deal with the human tsumani of refugees and illegal immigrants from North Africa arriving in southern Italian islands in recent weeks. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
3636. A man who fled the unrest in Tunisia is helped by Italian army soldiers after leaving the immigration centre during a protest against being sent back to his country, on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 11, 2011. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stepped up calls on Saturday for Europe to help deal with the human tsumani of refugees and illegal immigrants from North Africa arriving in southern Italian islands in recent weeks. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
3737. People who fled the unrest in Tunisia sit at the immigration centre after their protest against being sent back to their country, on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa April 11, 2011. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stepped up calls on Saturday for Europe to help deal with the human tsumani of refugees and illegal immigrants from North Africa arriving in southern Italian islands in recent weeks. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
No comments:
Post a Comment