Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

In a heartbreaking turn of events, a five-month-old girl was discovered dead on Tuesday during a rescue operation for migrants in the Mediterranean. The infant, along with her mother and sister, were brought to the Italian island of Lampedusa after being found aboard a distressed boat. The Humanity 1 search and rescue ship encountered a boat in distress on Tuesday morning, located in waters between Tunisia and Italy. The vessel had departed from Sfax two days prior and was carrying 45 individuals, none of whom were equipped with life jackets. Among the passengers was the lifeless body of a baby…

Two officers from the Guardia di Finanza have been sentenced for the deaths of four migrants resulting from the explosion of their boat in 2020. Initially commended for their rescue efforts, the officers have now been convicted by Judge Elvezia Cordasco of the preliminary hearing court in Crotone. The incident occurred on August 30, 2020, in the sea between Praialonga and Simeri, Calabria. Captain Vincenzo B., who was the commander of the navy’s operative section in Crotone at the time, and Sergeant Andrea N., the commander of the patrol boat involved in the rescue operation, received two-year suspended sentences. They…

A series of migrant arrivals occurred on the island of Lampedusa between May 27 and 28 2024, resulting in the shelter hotspot hosting 289 people. The influx began on May 27 when a patrol ship of the border and finance police intercepted a 10-meter-long boat carrying 53 migrants, including ten minors. The migrants, from Bangladesh, Egypt, and Syria, reported departing from Tajura in Libya. After seizing the boat, authorities transported the group to the Contrada Imbriacola shelter hotspot, which had been emptied earlier that day by order of the Prefecture of Agrigento. Later that same day, 93 more migrants arrived…

Leading charities in the UK are warning that the family reunion system is broken, leading to more dangerous Channel crossings. Over 2,700 unaccompanied minors crossed the Channel last year, highlighting the system’s failures. Families like Khaled’s show how bad the system is. Khaled was separated from his eldest son for nine years because of delays. His family had to wait eight long months for a decision on their reunion application. Even though the family reunion scheme was meant to help, it now has huge backlogs, leaving many families waiting and worried. These delays cause more than just waiting. Children who…

Germany witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of foreign nationals obtaining citizenship in 2023, reaching an unprecedented 200,100 individuals from 157 different nationalities. This represents a 19 percent increase from the previous year and marks the highest number since 2000. This surge in naturalizations reflects Germany’s evolving approach to immigration and its efforts to address workforce shortages. The Federal Statistical Office, as reported by Reuters, highlighted that people from Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Romania, and Afghanistan made up 56 percent of those who received German citizenship. Former Syrian nationals led the group with 75,500 people, a figure driven by the…

In a tragic turn of events, a violent brawl erupted in South Tel Aviv on Monday May 27th 2024 night, resulting in one fatality and leaving several others wounded. According to reports from both police and medical personnel, the altercation involved migrant supporters and opponents of the Eritrean regime. The Magen David Adom ambulance service confirmed that five individuals were injured during the clashes, with three of them sustaining serious wounds. Police swiftly responded to the incident, making more than 20 arrests in connection with the brawl. Among those detained is an Eritrean national who is now under investigation for…

The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has called on the African Union (AU) to create a coordinated process for managing labour migration. This process would help the AU present a unified stance at the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) on migration issues. Akhator Odigie, General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, praised the creation of the ‘Doha Dialogue’ on Labour Mobility, a collaborative effort involving the African Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, Jordan, and Lebanon. Odigie emphasized the need for inclusive and genuine implementation of this initiative, which aims to improve labour migration governance and protect migrant…

The River Sava, which flows between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, presents a significant challenge and danger for migrants attempting to cross the border. The men and women under Ivan Djakovic’s command are not just ordinary border guards; they are highly trained rescuers. These professionals can swim 400 meters in less than eight minutes, swim 25 meters underwater, and save a person from drowning. These rigorous skills are essential for patrolling the fast-flowing and treacherous River Sava. In the first three months of this year alone, Croatia registered 592 irregular border crossings. Of these, 54 incidents occurred along the 175-kilometer…

In a significant move on April 10, 2024, the European Parliament narrowly approved the Migration and Asylum Pact, marking a crucial step in addressing the EU’s longstanding asylum system challenges. This pact, developed over several years, traces its roots back to the tumultuous events of the 2015 refugee crisis, which strained relations among member states and led to a surge in border controls. The subsequent negotiations surrounding the pact garnered mixed reactions, with various political factions expressing both hope and disappointment. Despite its ambitious goals, the pact primarily focuses on addressing irregular immigrant asylum claims, rather than broader migration issues.…

Over 10,000 individuals have crossed the English Channel to the United Kingdom since the beginning of 2024, as per data from the UK Home Office, marking a 35 percent surge compared to the same period last year, reported by Agence France Presse (AFP) on May 25. The increase has raised doubts about the efficacy of the UK’s measures aimed at deterring irregular migration, particularly ahead of the upcoming general elections slated for July 4. The UK Home Office’s Stop the Boats policy, which includes intensified efforts against suspected smugglers, enhanced border controls in collaboration with international partners, and restrictions on…