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UN refugee chief Guterres visits Italy's Lampedusa | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
By Duncan Kennedy BBC News, Rome | By Duncan Kennedy BBC News, Rome |
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, has arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa. | |
More than 40,000 refugees, including many Libyans, have descended on the tiny island, often making the crossing in crowded, unsafe boats. | |
Some have been escaping the violence in north Africa, whilst many have seen an opportunity to get into the EU. | Some have been escaping the violence in north Africa, whilst many have seen an opportunity to get into the EU. |
Actress Angelina Jolie is also visiting Lampedusa, whose population is 5,000, as a UN goodwill ambassador. | Actress Angelina Jolie is also visiting Lampedusa, whose population is 5,000, as a UN goodwill ambassador. |
Mr Guterres's visit to Lampedusa is to see for himself the crowded conditions faced by the migrants. | |
Thousands have been sent to camps on mainland Italy, leading to a political row with other European Union countries which fear the migrants may cross their borders. | Thousands have been sent to camps on mainland Italy, leading to a political row with other European Union countries which fear the migrants may cross their borders. |
Others have been sent back to Tunisia. | Others have been sent back to Tunisia. |
In her role as a UN goodwill ambassador, Ms Jolie will also be present on Lampedusa, just as the UN celebrates World Refugee Day on Monday. | In her role as a UN goodwill ambassador, Ms Jolie will also be present on Lampedusa, just as the UN celebrates World Refugee Day on Monday. |
It is the 60th anniversary of the UN's refugee convention and the agency will present its annual report at a conference in Rome. | It is the 60th anniversary of the UN's refugee convention and the agency will present its annual report at a conference in Rome. |
Refugees will also be taking part in the meeting but it comes at a time when the host nation is making it tougher for migrants to stay. | Refugees will also be taking part in the meeting but it comes at a time when the host nation is making it tougher for migrants to stay. |
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government is under pressure to keep down the number of refugees arriving in the country. | Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government is under pressure to keep down the number of refugees arriving in the country. |
Italy has just issued a new decree increasing the amount of time an illegal migrant can be held from six months to a year and a half. | Italy has just issued a new decree increasing the amount of time an illegal migrant can be held from six months to a year and a half. |