After the shipwreck this Sunday off the coast of Calabria, in which at least 60 migrants died but it is feared there are more than a hundred, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, defined the crisis “a scourge” and he called for a firm commitment from the European Union.
The first data from the local authorities indicate that among the many victims (60 confirmed), after the sinking of a precarious boat, there were “many children and women”.
While the rescue teams were looking for other bodies underwater, the Italian authorities and also those of the European Union have asked to intervene to avoid new tragedies, a phenomenon that repeats itself up to the waves of migrants fleeing from Africa and the Middle East and who seek to reach European lands.
Barely 80 travelers reached the coast alive and, according to unofficial information, the precarious ship was carrying more than 200 people. Therefore, the final number of deaths is estimated to exceed one hundred.
The search continued throughout the day along the coast of the Steccato di Cutro, in Crotone, the southern tip of the peninsula.
“Deep sorrow for the many human lives taken by human traffickers,” said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
“The action of those who today speculate on these deaths, after having exalted the illusion of unregulated immigration, speaks for itself”, he added. And he argued that his government “is committed to preventing the departures and with them the perpetration of these tragedies, and will continue to do so, asking above all for maximum cooperation from the countries of origin” of these migrants.
President Mattarella, in turn, expressed his “sorrow” over this new shipwreck and asked for “a strong commitment from the international community to eliminate the underlying causes of migratory flows: wars, persecutions, terrorism, poverty, territories that have become inhospitable to climate change.
“It is equally fundamental – he added – that the EU finally assumes the specific responsibility of governing the migration phenomenon in order to rescue it from human traffickers, directly involving itself in migration policies”.
In a message released by the presidency, Mattarella added: “It is another Mediterranean tragedy that cannot leave anyone indifferent. the rescuers”.
Call from Ursula Von der Leyen
In turn, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has called on the member states to do so “redouble efforts” to reach an agreement on immigration policy of the EU after this Sunday’s shipwreck.
“I am deeply saddened by the terrible shipwreck off the coast of Calabria. The loss of life of innocent migrants is a tragedy,” wrote the German on her official Twitter profile.
“We must all together redouble our efforts in the Pact on migration and asylum and in the Action Plan for the central Mediterranean”, added the head of the EU Executive.
The 27 member countries have been discussing the reform of the EU migration and asylum policy for more than two years, but they have not made substantial progress since then on a very sensitive political issue and which divides the European capitals.
The heads of state and government addressed the migration debate at their summit on 10 February and agreed to take steps to speed up the return of irregular migrants and increase funds for external border protection, after Austria and seven other countries have openly asked for European funds to be used to finance the construction of fences.
The tragedy occurs three days after the approval of the Italian Parliament this Thursday a new decree on immigration, drawn up by the right-wing Meloni government, which substantially modifies the rescue operations of NGO ships.
Among other things, the regulation obliges to request the assignment of a port after the first aid of a group of migrants and to go to that location without deviating to identify other boats in danger.
The gulet – a large wooden boat – that sank on Sunday had left Izmir, Turkey, four days ago. Apparently, the vessel could not withstand the weight and, according to survivors, she broke in half.
Source: AFP, EFE and ANSA
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.