The number of mostly economic migrants trying to reach Europe has gone through the roof since this time last year! Most are seeking asylum (of course) and most will not be granted ‘refugee’ status.
Note that of the 1,123 rescued, 1,000 are young men.
From the BBC (hat tip: ‘pungentpeppers’):
Italy’s navy has rescued 1,123 people from inflatable boats in the space of 24 hours, as clandestine migration from North Africa reaches record levels.
The latest migrants were found in eight boats and a barge about 120 miles (222km) south-east of Lampedusa.
They included 47 women, four of them pregnant, and 50 children, all probably from sub-Saharan Africa, the navy said.
[….]
Some 2,000 migrants landed on Italian shores last month, nearly 10 times the number recorded in January 2013.
[….]
According to the government, last year saw an “incessant and massive influx of migrants” with a total of 42,925 arrivals by sea, or more than three times as many as in 2012.
[….]
Once in Italy, the migrants will be assessed to see if they have legitimate grounds for claiming asylum.
They have to satisfy the authorities that they are fleeing persecution and would face harm or even death if sent back to their country of origin.
Nearly three out of four asylum applications in EU states were rejected in 2012. [But, are those rejected sent back to Africa or left to wander Europe?—ed]
Read it all. Also, check out the BBC’s Mediterranean migration route map we posted here. Note that Turkey (Istanbul) is a main hub for the illegal migrants.
Addendum: Arab News says ‘go after the people smugglers’ to stop the flow.