Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Italy and Albania missed a deadline to open a controversial camp for migrants in Albania, where they will stay until their asylum applications are processed. This camp is part of a debated agreement between Rome and Albania to manage migrants rescued in Italian waters. The plan involves transferring the most vulnerable migrants to Italy while others are sent to the Albanian port of Shengjin. From there, they are moved to a former military base in Gjader, where their asylum claims will be reviewed. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that the complex would be operational by August 1. However, the…

In 2024, Italy experienced an influx of over 30,000 migrants. UNICEF has assisted 600 of the most vulnerable, including women and children. Additionally, the UN Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 900 individuals have either died or gone missing while trying to cross the Central Mediterranean to reach Italy. Over the past year, UNICEF has worked with local prefectures to support vulnerable migrants, assisting 600 individuals. This group included 453 unaccompanied girls, 50 women, and 90 families. Their support has been vital for those facing unique vulnerabilities, such as exploitation, violence, or abuse experienced during their journey or…

Across the globe, 120 million people are displaced, with 70 percent aiming to start new lives in cities. This unprecedented migration wave is testing local governments’ financial and operational capacities. To manage this, city leaders are turning to innovative solutions. In New York City, a new agency was created to assist the over 200,000 migrants who arrived in the past two years. This agency, the Office of Asylum Seeker Operations, includes an Asylum Application Help Center that provides one-on-one support for asylum applications, temporary protected status, and work authorization. The center collaborates with private law firms and local universities to…

In a landmark decision, Malaysia’s Court of Appeal has mandated that three immigration officers must defend themselves against serious allegations of migrant smuggling. This ruling overturns a previous acquittal by the High Court and sends the case back to the Shah Alam High Court for further proceedings. The case revolves around the alleged illegal facilitation of Bangladeshi migrants at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang. The accused officers are Maizatul Azwa Mohamad Nasib, aged 31; Hairulnizam Hasim, aged 42; and Zamir Hazwan Hamid, aged 41. They are charged with aiding the illegal entry of nine Bangladeshi migrants into Malaysia,…

Police in the UK have arrested an Egyptian national suspected of migrant smuggling, connected to a fatal incident during a Channel crossing over the weekend. The arrest was made by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) late on Monday, July 29, 2024. The man is believed to be involved in smuggling migrants from Europe to the UK and is specifically linked to the death of a woman who was on a migrant boat attempting the crossing. According to Agence France Presse (AFP), the French maritime authority reported that the woman’s death was part of a troubling new trend where deaths at…

On Wednesday, a van carrying more than 30 migrants overturned in southeastern Serbia. This accident, reported by state RTS television, is the second such incident to occur in recent days. The accident happened near the town of Bela Palanka, which is on the road from Pirot to Nis, close to the Bulgarian border. Just last week, another van carrying around 50 migrants overturned at the same location. Both of these accidents have resulted in many injuries. In the most recent incident, at least 20 people were hurt, and some of them sustained serious injuries. Serbia is a crucial point on…

Starting next month, migrants rescued at sea while trying to reach Italy may be sent to Albania while their asylum claims are processed. This controversial agreement means the small Balkan country will host thousands of asylum-seekers on Italy’s behalf. During a visit to Albania in June, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that two centers for migrants would be ready to host the first 1,000 people by August 1. However, with that date approaching, construction was still in progress at one of the centers, casting doubt on its readiness. Neither Italy nor Albania has confirmed when the first migrants will…

In the first half of 2024, Czech police detained 139 migrants during transit, a significant drop from the 799 detained during the same period last year. This decrease, highlighted by official data, marks a notable shift in migration patterns through the Czech Republic. According to Josef Urban, the spokesman for the Immigration Police, the majority of those detained were from Syria, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Turkey. These migrants were primarily attempting to reach other EU countries. Additionally, police apprehended four migrant smugglers between January and June, as reported by the Czech news agency CTK. The primary destination for these migrants…

In a major operation, Romanian police, with help from Europol and other international agencies, broke up a smuggling ring that was moving migrants from Bulgaria through Romania to Western Europe. On July 29, 2024, they arrested eight people and found 32 migrants in one of the group’s safe houses. The operation involved the Romanian Police (Poliția Română) and the Romanian Border Police (Poliția de Frontieră), with support from the Bulgarian General Directorate Combating Organised Crime (Главна Дирекция Борба с организираната престъпност) and additional assistance from Austria, Germany, and Hungary. During the raid, authorities searched nine locations across Romania, including two…

Two Syrians in Rome have created a community to support migrants and vulnerable people by sharing the flavors of their war-torn homeland. Founded in 2018, HummusTown began as a humanitarian catering service aimed at raising funds for families and friends in Syria. Over time, it has evolved into a thriving small business, helping new migrants integrate into Italy and gaining a loyal following on Rome’s gastronomic scene. As the Syrian war continued, Shaza Saker, a long-time U.N. employee in Rome, and Joumana Farho, her cook, sought ways to help those back home. Farho, known for her “divine” cooking, and Saker,…