The Italian government on Tuesday declared a six-month state of emergency amid the influx of thousands of migrants. The Council of Ministers, led by PM Giorgia Meloni, noted that the decision was meant to prevent the flow of illegal immigrants.
Civil Protection Measures
The Council noted that Italy witnessed a dramatic surge in migratory flows in 2023, “which is causing situations of extremely serious overcrowding.” Therefore, the government has announced an emergency to curb migrant flows in the coming months and mitigate the situation.
The declaration is essential to “decongest” migrant hotspots in Italy, and create “new structures” that would ensure the needs of migrants and the repatriation of those who do not possess the requirements to stay in the country.
The Council announced that the government has allocated around $5.5 million to curb illegal immigration.
Surge in Illegal Immigration
According to the Italian news site ANZA, the country registered a 300% rise in migrants this year. Reportedly, over 31,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far in 2023, up from 7,900 during the same period last year. Last weekend alone, 2,000 migrants arrived in the coastal city of Lampedusa.
The Italian Interior Ministry reported that the largest number of migrants this year was from the Ivory Coast, followed by Guinea, Pakistan, Egypt, Tunisia, and Bangladesh.