EU pledges 30 million euro to Italy to help with migrants
The European Union has pledged to give Italy an additional 30 million euro to deal with its refugee crisis, in the wake of last week’s boat accident that left at least 275 migrants dead.
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso announced the additional funding on Wednesday as he visited the the Italian island of Lampedusa.
Divers are still recovering bodies from the vessel carrying as many as 500 African migrants that sunk near the island. Only 155 people were rescued.
A small group of activists heckled Barroso as he arrived in Lampedusa. Islanders have long complained that they receive little support to cope with the thousands of migrants who come ashore each year.
Lampedusa is geographically closer to Africa than it is to Italy’s mainland, making the island a destination for Africans hoping to start a new life in Europe.
On Tuesday, Italian authorities detained a Tunisian man who is believed to have been the captain of the ill-fated boat that sunk last week.
Also Tuesday, the EU proposed setting up search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean to intercept migrant boats.
The boat capsized and sunk after someone set a fire on board in an effort to draw attention from passing ships.
Source: VOANews.com
(Photo: EC Audiovisual Service)
