Italy declares state of emergency over migrants

International

12-04-2023, 07:41

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INA- sources

The Italian government declared a state of emergency on Tuesday to deal with the "sharp rise" of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean.
It will last for about six months and provide €5 million (roughly $5.45 million) to regions dealing with crisis in the south of Italy.

The money is supposed to fund setting up new reception centers for migrants, while declaring the emergency should make it easier for Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government to repatriate those not allowed to stay in Italy faster.

"Let it be clear, we are not solving the problem, the solution can only depend on responsible intervention by the European Union," Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said.

More than 31,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, interior ministry data shows, up from around 7,900 in the same period last year.

source: DW