Dozens of Migrants Feared Dead as Italy PM’s Immigration Success Crumbles
A desperate journey turned tragic this week as dozens of migrants are feared dead after their overcrowded rubber dinghy sank in the central Mediterranean. The Italian Coast Guard has managed to recover six bodies so far, and up to 40 more people are still missing, according to the UN refugee agency.
The boat, which had set off from Sfax in Tunisia on Monday, was carrying 56 people. Survivors say the dinghy started to deflate just hours after departure. Ten people, including four women, were rescued and brought to the southern Italian island of Lampedusa on Tuesday, reported the Express.
“They have endured a traumatic experience,” said a Red Cross spokesperson, noting that while the survivors are physically okay, they’re receiving psychological support to help them deal with the ordeal. The sea conditions haven’t made the rescue mission any easier. Both the Italian Coast Guard and Frontex aircraft are involved in the search, but rough waters are slowing down efforts.
One of the rescued migrants shared a haunting account: “We knew the boat was in danger. We prayed it wouldn’t sink.” Sadly, for many onboard, those prayers weren’t enough. This tragic incident is just the latest in a grim pattern. Since 2014, the UN’s Missing Migrant Project has tracked over 24,500 deaths in the Mediterranean — and they suspect many more have gone unreported.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed the ongoing crisis earlier this week. “Reducing the departures and curbing the traffickers’ business is the only way to reduce the number of migrants who lose their lives trying to reach Italy,” she said.
Meloni highlighted a significant drop in migrant arrivals — reportedly down 60% in 2023 — thanks in part to a controversial funding agreement with Tunisia. But she was quick to caution that “the crisis is not over.”
And she may be right. While the official numbers for 2024 have remained low — just 164 arrivals logged through last week — there’s been a noticeable uptick in the last few days. After the dinghy rescue, another 40 migrants reached Lampedusa in metal boats. Meanwhile, a rescue ship carrying 35 migrants was told to dock all the way in La Spezia, in northern Italy, adding days to their journey.
Anabel Montes Mier, who led that mission, didn’t mince her words: “This adds unnecessary suffering to those who have already faced hell at sea.” As search efforts continue, the Mediterranean remains as treacherous as ever — a place of both hope and heartbreak.