First Libyan refugees arrive in Lampedusa

More and more immigrants from the African countries are arriving on the overcrowded Italian island, Lampedusa, reports EU Observer.

On 27 March 2011, one boat carrying 284 people, mostly Eritreans, Ethiopians and Somalis, was escorted by the Italian coast guard to Linosa, an even smaller island in the vicinity of Lampedusa. Other boats have been detected as well and they arrived on the following days bring thousands of people.

Locals resorted to desperate measures to prevent more migrants from landing on their shores. The Italian government pledged to evacuate thousands of migrants.

• Primary Source

La Stampa, 30.3.11: France and Italy's refugee ping-pong (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/576521-france-and-italys-refugee-ping-pong

Deutsche Welle, 29.3.11: Italian islanders block harbor to prevent influx of migrants http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14951186,00.html

France24, 29.3.11: Lampedusa swamped as refugees arrive daily http://www.france24.com/en/20110329-italy-lampedusa-immigration-refugees-centre-overflows-thousands-north-africa

Spiegel Online International, 29.3.11: First Boatload from Libya Arrives on Italian Soil http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,753805,00.html

BBC News, 30.3.11: Berlusconi to visit migrant island of Lampedusa http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12903771

ESO: Background Information: Italy blocks ship of migrants fleeing Libya http://www.europeansources.info/record/italy-blocks-ship-of-migrants-fleeing-libya/

ESO: Background information: EU ministers cool to Italy’s call for aid http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-ministers-cool-to-italys-call-for-aid/

Corriere della Sera, 29.3.11: Mass Refusal of Entry Mooted http://www.corriere.it/International/english/articoli/2011/03/29/sarzanini-mass-refusal.shtml

EUObserver, 30.3.11: Eritrean refugees critcise Italy and Malta http://euobserver.com/9/32092

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