The number of migrant
arrivals in Italy via the central Mediterranean route fell by
over two-thirds in September compared to the same month last
year, dropping to to 5,600, Frontex said Wednesday.
The number rose on the previous month, however, due to higher
levels of migrants arriving from the Tunisian and Algerian
coasts, reported the EU border agency.
The total number of arrivals in the first nine months of the
year was about 104,800, 21% fewer than in the same period of the
previous year.
"The third quarter of 2017 saw the lowest number of irregular
migrants in the Central Mediterranean for the July-September
period since 2014," Frontex said.
"In recent weeks, the number of people claiming to be from
the North African countries, mainly Tunisia and Algeria, has
risen, followed by nationals of sub-Saharan countries - Nigeria,
Ivory Coast and Guinea".
European Council President Donald Tusk said on the eve of an
EU summit that the Italian government under Premier Paolo
Gentiloni had begun to curb migrant flows effectively.
He noted that it was "thanks to Italy" that the number of
undocumented migrants and migrant deaths had finally begun to
drop following an agreement with Libya and a mission to support
the North African State's coast guard.
Tusk urged the EU to step up its efforts to help and added
that member states would have to be prepared to work harder and
put more money into the Trust Fund for Africa.
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