Top EU official heads to an Italian island struggling with migrant influx as Italy toughens stance
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to travel on Sunday to the Italian island of Lampedusa amid an influx of migrants who arrived this week
MILAN — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to travel Sunday to the Italian island of Lampedusa, which was overwhelmed with thousands of migrants arrivals this week, at the invitation of Italy’s premier, who is calling for a naval blockade of North Africa.
Von der Leyen’s spokesman, Eric Mamer, confirmed on Saturday that she would make the trip at the invitation of Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.
Tensions on the small island were rising Saturday, as both residents and migrants chafed at the long wait times to transfer people from the crowded reception center to the Italian mainland. Nearly 7,000 migrants arrived on Lampedusa from Tunisia this week, and the Red Cross said that 3,800 remained on the island on Friday.
Media reports indicated that was down to about 2,000, with authorities working to transfer most of those by the end of Saturday.
Residents gathered in the center of town Saturday to protest plans to put up a tent city on Lampedusa, and demanded a meeting with a Sicilian regional law enforcement official. A representative told the official that islanders have run out of patience after three decades of coping with arrivals.
Meanwhile, footage aired by SKY TG24 showed police using shields to prevent migrants inside the reception center from surging to the gate. Elsewhere, migrants sat along a roadside looking fatigued in the heat, waiting for a transfer.
Migrants continued to arrive Saturday, but in far smaller numbers, around 500. They included the body of a newborn, who reportedly was born during the crossing. The mother was
Read more on abcnews.go.com
