This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/01/world/europe/bodies-of-30-migrants-found-in-boat-off-sicily.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Bodies of 30 Migrants Found in Boat Off Sicily 30 Migrants Found Dead In a Boat Near Sicily
(about 7 hours later)
ROME — The authorities discovered the bodies of about 30 migrants in the hold of a fishing boat during a rescue operation off the coast of Sicily, the Italian Navy said Monday. ROME — Italian naval personnel discovered the bodies of about 30 migrants in the hold of a fishing boat during a rescue operation off the coast of Sicily, the navy said Monday.
The bodies were found in a forward area of the boat and were thought to have suffocated or drowned, doctors said. It was not clear whether the boat was taking on water. A navy frigate rescued 566 people from the vessel during the operation on Sunday, officials said. The bodies were found in a forward area of the boat and the victims were thought to have suffocated or drowned, doctors said. It was not clear whether the boat was taking on water. A navy frigate rescued 566 people from the vessel during the operation on Sunday, officials said.
The nationalities of the victims were not known, but tens of thousands of people have tried to reach Italy by crossing from North Africa in recent years. Over the past weekend alone, the Italian authorities rescued more than 5,000 migrants in the Mediterranean, and some 60,000 people have reached Italian shores in the first six months of this year, compared with 42,000 in all of last year. The nationalities of the victims were not known, but tens of thousands of people have tried to reach Italy by crossing from North Africa in recent years. Over the past weekend alone, Italian authorities rescued more than 5,000 migrants in the Mediterranean, and some 60,000 people have reached Italian shores in the first six months of this year, compared with 42,000 in all of last year.
Luigi Ammatuna, the mayor of Pozzallo, the Sicilian town where the frigate was heading, said in a televised interview: “We won’t even have time to identify those arriving today; tomorrow another 600 are coming to the port.”Luigi Ammatuna, the mayor of Pozzallo, the Sicilian town where the frigate was heading, said in a televised interview: “We won’t even have time to identify those arriving today; tomorrow another 600 are coming to the port.”
Italy has accused the European Union and other European countries of not doing enough to help prevent and manage the migrant arrivals.Italy has accused the European Union and other European countries of not doing enough to help prevent and manage the migrant arrivals.
The Northern League, Italy’s largest anti-immigration party, has seized on the issue in its criticism of the government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.The Northern League, Italy’s largest anti-immigration party, has seized on the issue in its criticism of the government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
“Stop the departures, help them at home, now!” Matteo Salvini, the Northern League leader, wrote in a Facebook post on Monday. “Renzi and Alfano have blood on their shirts, don’t they?” he wrote, referring to the interior minister, Angelino Alfano, of the New Center Right party. “Stop the departures, help them at home, now!” Matteo Salvini, the Northern League leader, wrote in a Facebook post on Monday. “Renzi and Alfano have blood on their shirts, don’t they?” he wrote, referring to the interior minister, Angelino Alfano of the New Center Right party.
Mr. Salvini has denounced Italy’s marine rescue operation, Mare Nostrum, calling the effort a burden for taxpayers that encourages immigration. The task force was created last October after a migrant boat capsized off the island of Lampedusa, killing more than 360 people. . Mr. Salvini has denounced Italy’s marine rescue operation, Mare Nostrum, calling the effort a burden for taxpayers that encourages immigration. The marine task force was created in October after a burning migrant boat capsized off the island of Lampedusa, killing more than 360 people.
“If we stopped Mare Nostrum, we’d have even more shipwrecks and victims,” said Flavio Di Giacomo, the spokesman for the International Organization for Migration in Italy. “What spurs people to attempt the crossing are the war in Syria and the political instability and street violence against migrants in Libya, not simply the fact that the traffickers know that the rescue operations have been strengthened.”“If we stopped Mare Nostrum, we’d have even more shipwrecks and victims,” said Flavio Di Giacomo, the spokesman for the International Organization for Migration in Italy. “What spurs people to attempt the crossing are the war in Syria and the political instability and street violence against migrants in Libya, not simply the fact that the traffickers know that the rescue operations have been strengthened.”
In 2011, spurred by the upheaval of the Arab Spring, a record 62,000 migrants reached Italy, many from Libya and Tunisia.In 2011, spurred by the upheaval of the Arab Spring, a record 62,000 migrants reached Italy, many from Libya and Tunisia.
Mr. Di Giacomo said that the overall number of arrivals was not a problem in itself, but the fact that thousands of people were brought ashore at the same time was causing serious health and logistical issues at the two Sicilian ports where naval boats disembark them.Mr. Di Giacomo said that the overall number of arrivals was not a problem in itself, but the fact that thousands of people were brought ashore at the same time was causing serious health and logistical issues at the two Sicilian ports where naval boats disembark them.
“We need to start thinking about legal channels for people to seek international protection in Europe,” Mr. Di Giacomo said. “Migrants keep saying that they have no alternative but to leave.”“We need to start thinking about legal channels for people to seek international protection in Europe,” Mr. Di Giacomo said. “Migrants keep saying that they have no alternative but to leave.”
Italy has announced that it will use its rotating European Union presidency seat, which begins on Tuesday, to press for other countries to share the cost and burden of the rescue operations. Italy has announced that it would use its rotating European Union presidency seat, which begins on Tuesday, to press other countries to share the cost and burden of the rescue operations.