The head of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, arrived in Lampedusa today with the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the EU Home Affairs Commissioner, Ylva Johansson. The three politicians disembarked at the airport on the Mediterranean island, where they were received by the Italian Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi. Meloni calls for a European mission to stop migrant boats heading to Europe.
Portal/Yara Nardi
Meanwhile, refugees continue to arrive in Lampedusa. 144 people arrived on the island this morning; Yesterday 1,000 people arrived on board 23 boats. Authorities reported that other boats with hundreds of people on board were heading towards Lampedusa.
There are currently around 2,000 people on the island’s hotspot. 640 migrants are expected to leave Lampedusa for Sicily on Sunday. Authorities want to ease pressure on the island, which this week was faced with unprecedented migratory movements. 11,000 people arrived in Lampedusa this week, where 6,300 people live.
Resident protests
In Lampedusa, there was a protest demonstration by residents yesterday. They spoke out against supposed plans to set up a camp to accommodate migrants, as the island’s access point is overcrowded. “It’s over, Lampedusa belongs to us and not to the EU”, shouted the protesters who blocked some streets. The Red Cross, which runs the island’s refugee facilities, has denied plans to set up a camp.