Reception capacity on Lampedusa is to
be expanded with the creation of an additional 850 places within
the next 20 days, the interior ministry said on Wednesday
evening.
The small Sicilian island is struggling to cope with the influx
of migrants and refugees from north Africa, which has increased
significantly in recent weeks.
On Thursday morning there were 2,705 people in the hotspot in
Contrada Imbriacola against an official capacity of less than
400 places.
Meanwhile efforts are underway to transfer people away from
Lampedusa after the arrival of 1,078 in 20 separate landings on
Wednesday further compounded the overcrowding.
Provisions have been made to transfer up to 2,900 arrivals by
Friday in an operation involving the navy, air force, finance
police, coast guard and regular ferry, according to the interior
ministry.
A first group of 389 migrants and refugees departed by ferry to
Porto Empedocle on Wednesday evening.
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