Where do the refugees in Lampedusa come from?
Lampedusa is closer to Africa than it is to mainland Europe. This summer, the island has experienced a renewed surge of migrants reaching its shores. On Saturday, Italian Coast Guards rescued nearly 800 people from several unseaworthy craft that had launched from Tunisia and Libya in North Africa.
Why do refugees go to Lampedusa?
Lampedusa is one of the main arrival ports for people wanting to reach Europe. More boats were spotted off the coast of nearby Malta, with charity Alarm Phone saying they needed assistance. “One rescue operation could put a total of around 231 people out of danger of drowning,” it said.
Why is Lampedusa so important to immigrants?
For years, its sparkling waters and postcard-pretty beaches have provided a jarring backdrop for migrant boat landings; the island is conveniently closer to Africa than Europe – around 70 miles from the Tunisian coast and further south than Malta.
What language is spoken in Lampedusa?
It’s Italian, but it’s definitely not Italy: Stephen Wood visits Lampedusa, an island beyond the map’s edge, where North Africa meets Rome and even the sharks are poets.
What country owns Lampedusa?
Italy
Administratively Lampedusa is part of the autonomous region of Sicily in Italy. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea between Malta and Tunisia, 105 miles (170 km) southwest of Licata, Sicily.
How many immigrants are on Lampedusa?
The reception facilities on Lampedusa are designed to accommodate around 250 people and are far over capacity. Adnkronos reported that there were now “more than 1,000 migrants” in there with the authorities unable to make enough transfers to other parts of Italy and on board quarantine ships quickly enough.
Where is Lampedusa Sicily?
Administratively Lampedusa is part of the autonomous region of Sicily in Italy. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea between Malta and Tunisia, 105 miles (170 km) southwest of Licata, Sicily.
What does Lampedusa mean in English?
Lampedusa in British English (ˌlæmpɪˈdjuːzə ) noun. an island in the Mediterranean, between Malta and Tunisia; the largest of Italy’s Pelagian islands.
Is there a bridge between Africa and Europe?
The Strait of Gibraltar crossing is a hypothetical bridge or tunnel spanning the Strait of Gibraltar (about 14 km or 9 miles at its narrowest point) that would connect Europe and Africa.