mediterranean migration

mediterranean migration

blue borders

Large numbers of migrants and refugees arriving in Europe cross some part of the Mediterranean. The purpose of this website is to take a look at the most important route, that of the Central Mediterranean, by focusing on both maritime and political events.

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Maritime Events

Political Events

April 2024

30

Around 17'000 Italy maritime arrivals so far, 68 in Malta UNHCR

Saied and Macron discuss matters of migration TAP TAP

25

Immigration attempt thwarted in Zuwara (Libya) LObs

Libyan-European talks on combating migration LObs

23

19 human corpses fished out of sea near Sfax by Tunisian forces TAP

UK Parliament passes law permitting Rwanda migrant expulsion BBC

18

Italy intercepts two groups of migrants, 45 and 127, departing from Libya LObs

President Saied: 'Tunisia will never be a transit country for migrants' TAP

15

Tunisia discusses migration issues with Austria TAP

14

11 dead migrants taken to Porto Empedocle GdS

13

52'000 migrants reached Italy from Libya in 2023 GdS

11

23 rescued near Lampedusa, 8 dead and 15 disappeared GdS GdS
Tunisia arrests nine migrants for illegal crossing to Italy TAP

10

EU Parliament approves reform of major migration laws BBC

7

Tunisian CG rescues 2'688 sub-Saharan migrants, 13 found dead TAP
Massive departure of migrants from Lampedusa hotspot to mainland GdS

6

145 migrants arrive at Lampedusa GdS
Disembarkation at various Sicilian ports of up to 300 migrants GdS

5

58 migrants rescued off Libya arrive at Pozzallo (Sicily) GdS

4

CG rescues 45 migrants off Lampedusa, one victim GdS

3

Two abandoned vessels found at Porto Empedocle (Sicily), number of migrants unclear GdS
50 migrants disembark at Pozzallo (Sicily) GdS

1

43 migrants rescued off Lampedusa GdS
Tunisian CG rescues 50 migrants, several arrested for assistance TAP

March 2024

31

11'000 Italy maritime arrivals so far, 67 at Malta UNHCR
Libyan CG interferes with NGO 'Humanity1' while rescuing 77 migrants GdS ANSAmed ANSA GdS xx

Tunisian Interior Minister and new Italiam ambassador discuss migration issues TAP

25

Oil tanker rescues 139 migrants off Libya, 3 drown GdS GdS

24

According to the Viminale in Rome 9'479 migrants have reached Italy by sea so far, half the number of 2023 GdS
Tunisia stops 614 migrants from departing for Europe, 2 dead TAP
50 rescued migrants arrive at Lampedusa, one dead GdS
Around 1'000 migrants land during one night in Lampedusa GdS

Rwanda accepts 91 Libyan refugees LObs

23

59 migrants land at Lampedusa; another 620 arrive in one night GdS GdS

22

Arrival at Lampedusa of 87 migrants in one day, and of 316 the day before GdS

21

196 migrants arrive in three vessels at Lampedusa GdS

20

MsF accuses Libya of interfering with rescue of 170 migrants LObs

19

Tunisian CG prevents 363 sub-saharan migrants from departing TAP

18

45 migrants rescued by 'Geo Barents' off Libya, 30 drowned; 71 rescued by 'Life Support' off Malta GdS
225 migrants arrive at Pantelleria (Sicily) in two days GdS
381 migrants rescued by GC disembark at Pozzallo (Sicily) GdS

17

According to Rome number of migrants decreased so far by 67% compared to last year LObs
275 migrants rescued by GC and GdF arrive at Lampedusa GdS
Tunisia thwarts 538 migrants from departing for Europe TAP

15

228 migrants have arrived at Lampedusa GdS

14

'Ocean Viking' of SOS Med rescues 25 migrants off Libya, 60 to have perished BBC GdS GdS
107 migrants arrive at Lampedusa GdS

13

42 migrants intercepted off Lampedusa GdS

11

'Life Support'' of NGO Emergency rescues 52 migrants GdS

10

Tunisian CG rescues 77 migrants including five dead TAP
46 rescued migrants arrive at Lampedusa, one victim ANSAmed ANSA

ANSA access restricted

9

138 rescued migrants arrive at Lampedusa ANSA GdS

8

4 vessels with 133 migrants reach Lampedusa ANSA GdS
51 'Sea Watch 5' migrants disembarking at Pozzallo (Sicily) ANSA GdS
46 migrants land near Lampedusa GdS

7

'Sea Watch 5' with 51 migrants headed for Ravenna (Emilia-Romagna) with one dead on board ANSAmed GdS GdS

5

Tunisia and Italy sign new agreement regulating employment ANSAmed

3

200 migrants bloccaded off Morocco ANSAmed

February 2024

29

4'403 maritime arrivals in Italy so far, 66 in Malta UNHCR

28

'Sea Eye 4' rescues 57 migrants heading for Lampedusa, 2 dead GdS

27

Tunisian CG rescues 63 migrants off Sfax, one dead ANSAmed
'Sea Watch 5' rescues 45 migrants to disembark at Catania (Sicily) ANSA GdS
According to IOM 700'000 migrants are stranded in Libya ANSAmed

25

Migrant protests in Malta: Paying taxes without rights? ToM

23

Five migrants die during migrant rescue operation off Malta ANSAmed
32 migrants land at Pozzallo (Sicily) GdS
Italy arrests 12 travelling on a rubber dingy (6 Tunisians and 6 Italians) for migrant smuggling ANSA

22

Albanian Parliament approves treaty to create Italian migration center ANSAmed

21

Arrest of 12 Italian and foreign persons involved in migrant smuggling ANSAmed GdS

19

MsF 'Geo Barents' with 121 rescued migrants headed for Bari (Apulia), 2 dead on board ANSAmed ANSA

17

52 migrants land at Lampedusa ANSA GdS

15

Tunisia rescues 41 migrants off Zarzis, nine dead TAP

14

The IOM reports the return of 442 migrants departing for Europe, amounting to a total 1004 so far this year LObs

10

GC rescues 55 migrants and takes them to Lampedusa GdS

9

261 migrants on board SOS Med's 'Ocean Viking' head for Brindisi (Apulia) ANSAmed

8

Tunisian CG rescued two migrants from a boat with 13 missing TAP

7

GdF rescues 40 migrants to disembark at Lampedusa GdS

6

12 migrants rescued off Lampedusa, one dies GdS
134 MsF 'Geo Barents' migrants to disembark at Ravenna (Emilia-Romagna) ANSAmed
47 migrants rescued by GdF land at Lampedusa GdS

4

12 migrants rescued off Lampedusa, one dead ANSA GdS

3

Heavy rainfall reduces Tunisian water crisis ANSAmed

2

200 migrants land at Trapani (Sicily) GdS

1

GC rescues 49 migrants off Lampedusa ANSA GdS

Libya deports 163 Nigerian migrants LObs
NGOs lost hundreds of days of SAR activity by Italian assignment of far-off disembarkation ports ANSA

January 2024

31

1'462 Italy arrivals in January, 35 at Malta UNHCR

30

At least 100 migrants died crossing the Central Med during the first month of 2024 ANSA

28

7 migrants arrive at Torre Salsa (Sicilia) GdS

Two-day Africa-Italy summit to be held in Rome, migration a topic TAP

26

MsF 'Geo Barents' rescues 68 migrants to disembark at Genova, one victim ANSA GdS

EU Commission to monitor legal dimension of Italian-Albanian migrant agreement ANSAmed
France to tighten migrant law despite court ruling BBC

23

Amnesty International: 'EU-Tunisia Agreement has failed' ANSAmed

21

57 migrants rescued by NGO Open Arms to land at Crotone (Calabria) ANSA
NGO vessel 'Humanity 1' rescues 126 migrants off Malta to disembark at Taranto (Apulia) ANSA

20

167 rescued migrants disembark at Lampedusa GdS

19

130 migrants land at Lampedusa GdS

18

85 migrants in two boats intercepted by Frontex, GC and GdF arrive at Lampedusa GdS

16

40 migrants missing in Maltese SAR area, probably departing from Libya GdS TAP

12

MsF 'Geo Barents' rescues 37 migrants to disembark at Napoli ANSAmed

11

Two vessels carrying 100 migrants intercepted by GdF and Frontex arrive at Lampedusa ANSAmed

9

35 migrants died along Libyan coast since January 1st, 118 since December 26 GdS
6'618 persons died in 2023 trying to reach Spanish coasts ANSAmed

7

Tunisia dismantles international human trafficking network TAP

6

Rishi Sunak had doubts over Rwanda migration plans BBC
Tunisian FM and French ambassador discuss impact of new and stricter French immigration laws on mutual relations TAP
Italian FM: We worked well with Libya and Tunisia in area of migration LObs

4

After arrival of 109 migrants at Pozzallo (Sicily) arrest of three Egyptians suspected of migrant smuggling GdS
Arrival of 147 migrants at Lampedusa GdS

3

91 migrants disembark at Lampedusa GdS

2

147 arrivals at Lampedusa GdS
Tunisian CG thwarts numerous migration operations and rescues 188 TAP

650 transferred out of Lampedusa camp ANSA GdS