Post by Quia on Mar 22, 2011 22:33:34 GMT -5
More North African migrants have come ashore on the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, where the migrant influx this year has doubled the population.
The 127 who arrived early on Tuesday pushed the migrant numbers to about 5,500 on Lampedusa. Local officials have demanded help from mainland Italy.
Most of the migrants are from Tunisia, where civil unrest has continued since the revolution in January.
An Italian warship is expected to move some migrants from Lampedusa shortly.
Italian media report that Lampedusa islanders have urged Rome to evacuate migrants to holding centres elsewhere in Italy, because Lampedusa can no longer cope with the numbers.
The Ansa news agency says conditions are wretched at Lampedusa's migrant holding centre, designed for just 800 but now housing almost 3,000.
The 127 who arrived early on Tuesday pushed the migrant numbers to about 5,500 on Lampedusa. Local officials have demanded help from mainland Italy.
Most of the migrants are from Tunisia, where civil unrest has continued since the revolution in January.
An Italian warship is expected to move some migrants from Lampedusa shortly.
Italian media report that Lampedusa islanders have urged Rome to evacuate migrants to holding centres elsewhere in Italy, because Lampedusa can no longer cope with the numbers.
The Ansa news agency says conditions are wretched at Lampedusa's migrant holding centre, designed for just 800 but now housing almost 3,000.