Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni, has called upon the United Nations to launch a “global war” against illegal migration. Meloni’s plea comes in the wake of yet another influx of migrant boats arriving on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, which has been grappling with the challenges posed by illegal migration.
A Dire Situation
Reports from local media indicate that on Thursday alone, over 700 people arrived on the island in boats originating from Africa. Since Wednesday, more than 20 additional boats, predominantly from Tunisia, have made landfall. The immigration reception center on Lampedusa is now significantly overcrowded, housing more than 1,100 people.
Lampedusa, located between Sicily and North Africa, has long been a hotspot for European migration. In fact, just last week, a record-breaking 5,000 migrants arrived on the island from North Africa in a single day, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Meloni’s Call to Action
Over the weekend, Prime Minister Meloni personally visited Lampedusa alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. During her address at the UN General Debate in New York, Meloni emphasized the need for the United Nations to take decisive action against human traffickers.
“I firmly believe that it is the responsibility of this esteemed organization to declare an unrelenting war on human traffickers, devoid of hypocrisy and compromise,” Meloni declared. Italy, she reaffirmed, is ready to spearhead this vital mission.
For nearly a year, Meloni has led a coalition of right-wing parties in Italy, with combating illegal migration standing as one of her key electoral promises. Figures from the Ministry of the Interior have revealed that over 130,000 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea since the beginning of this year—nearly double the number recorded during the same period in 2022.
It is now up to the international community to rally together, recognizing the urgency of the situation and taking swift, coordinated action to tackle the formidable challenge posed by illegal migration.
dpa/NAN
