EU Ready to Help Italy with Tunisian Refugees

Would-be migrants from Tunisia enter the refugee camp on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, Italy, 13 February 2011. EPA/BGNES

The European Union declared that it is ready to help Italy, which is facing an unexpectedly high refugee wave from restive Tunisia across the Mediterranean.

More than 1000 persons have debarked Sunday on the small Italian island of Lampedusa, making the total number of refugees over the last 5 days to some 5000.

A spokesperson of the European Commission stated that Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom is fuly aware of the pressure exerted on Italy, and has had conversations with Italian authorities regarding the matter.

She has also contacted the Frontex agency that distributes resources for safeguarding EU's borders.

Saturday the Italian government had declared a status of "humanitarian emergency" over the unexpected influx of people, coming after weeks of street protests in Tunisia, which resulted in the ousting of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

Italy has also requested an emergency meeting of the Internal Affairs Council of the EU.

Authorities have organized the transfer of migrants to other parts of the country, but Lampedusa is still crowded with numbers it cannot handle.

Foreign affairs minister Franco Frattini recommended that Italy sends ships to patrol Tunisian waters to prevent illegal crossing, much as Italy did with respect to Albania during the 1990s.

Minister of interior Roberto Maroni stated he will insist from Tunisian authorities to put a firm control and block the outflow of people from theiry country.

Refugees on their part have complained of a strong sense of insecurity about economic prospects and personal security in their country after weeks of unrest.

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