Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

A remarkable shift is underway in Italy’s business landscape, with a new study revealing a boom in migrant-run companies even as enterprises managed by Italians decline. The research, titled ‘Immigration and Entrepreneurship in Italy and in Europe,’ conducted by the IDOS research center in collaboration with the CNA trade association, paints a compelling picture of the growing economic impact of immigrant entrepreneurs. According to the study, the number of companies managed by migrants in Italy surged by an impressive 42.7% between 2011 and 2022, while businesses run by Italians experienced a 5% contraction during the same period. By the end…

A perilous journey across the Atlantic Ocean to reach the Canary Islands has ended in tragedy, with Spanish maritime rescuers recovering the bodies of two migrants from a distressed fishing canoe. According to reports from the Red Cross citing survivors, an additional five people are feared to have lost their lives during the treacherous crossing, their bodies cast into the unforgiving waters. The grim discovery unfolded on Monday evening when a merchant vessel spotted the unstable boat carrying the migrants and alerted authorities on the island of Gran Canaria. Upon reaching the vessel, a long, wooden dugout canoe known as…

The United Nations has stepped in to address the concerning case of a Senegalese teenager being held in an adult prison in the Canary Islands, despite possessing documentation indicating he is a minor. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has urged Spanish authorities to uphold the teenager’s rights and treat him as a child, given the uncertainty surrounding his age. The case centers around an individual identified as B.C., who was accused of piloting a migrant boat to the Canary Islands and faces charges related to facilitating irregular immigration. Since December 21, 2023, the Senegalese national, who…

In a new development, the UK government has unveiled plans for a voluntary departure scheme aimed at migrants who have been refused the right to stay in the country but cannot be returned to their home nations. Under this scheme, migrants would be offered financial incentives, reportedly up to £3,000, to relocate to Rwanda. The proposal marks a significant departure from previous deportation plans, as migrants would not be required to return to their country of origin. The scheme is seen as an extension of the existing Home Office voluntary returns service, which provides financial support for certain asylum seekers…

The upcoming ‘click day’ on March 21st 2024, designated for the admission of domestic caregivers from non-EU countries to Italy, has sparked apprehension among Italian families, particularly those seeking to hire caregivers or babysitters. Assindatcolf, an Italian association representing domestic workers’ employers, voiced concerns over the procedure, citing findings from a recent survey conducted by the socio-economic research institute Censis. According to Assindatcolf, 82.5% of families employing domestic workers expressed a preference for alternative procedures to the flow decree regulating the entry of foreign workers. The survey, titled ‘Where is welfare going? Health, assistance, and social services in the expectations…

Tragedy struck as a 40-year-old Pakistani migrant perished during a perilous journey to Lampedusa, Italy, succumbing to a reported heart attack. The victim was among 46 migrants rescued off the Sicilian island on Friday, March 8 2024, after departing from Zuwara, Libya, two days earlier. According to a relative traveling with him, the Pakistani migrant suffered a heart attack during the arduous crossing. However, a subsequent medical examination conducted by authorities in Agrigento found no signs of violence or foul play. The deceased had paid between 4,000 and 6,000 euros for the hazardous voyage, highlighting the exorbitant costs migrants are…

The Cyprus coast guard has rescued a total of 458 migrants on six boats originating from Lebanon, including unaccompanied minors, with most hailing from Syria or Lebanon. Within the past 24 hours, all migrants were safely rescued, as confirmed by a police spokesman to Cypriot media on Tuesday.Reportedly, nearly 460 individuals were crammed onto six boats and rescued off Cape Greco, a small peninsula in southeastern Cyprus on March 11, as per the Cyprus News Agency. The Cyprus Port and Maritime Police conducted the rescue operation, highlighting the overwhelming numbers involved. Notably, one boat carried an astonishing 283 individuals, including…

The Geo Barents, a vital migrant rescue vessel operated by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), successfully concluded its latest mission by arriving in the bustling port city of Genoa on Monday, March 11, with 129 rescued migrants aboard. Among the passengers were vulnerable women, men, and young children, some of whom had been previously offloaded in Civitavecchia, Lazio, before the vessel’s final docking. This mission followed a dramatic rescue operation conducted by the Geo Barents on March 7, where it rescued a staggering 261 people from two severely overcrowded wooden boats. The survivors, hailing from 12 different nationalities, had embarked on…

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has sounded the alarm on a dire humanitarian situation in Mozambique Cabo Delgado Province, where more than 110,000 people have been displaced since December 22 due to escalating violence perpetrated by non-state armed groups. This surge in displacement marks the second-largest wave since the conflict began in 2017, underscoring the deepening crisis in the region. Communities in Cabo Delgado are reeling from relentless attacks, with affected individuals forced to flee their homes under harrowing circumstances. The testimony of Carlota, a displaced woman, reflects the widespread fear and desperation gripping the region as families abandon…

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization, have forged a collaboration agreement aimed at providing essential medicines, medical supplies, and healthcare assistance to migrants and their host communities during times of crisis. The partnership, formalized on March 1, marks a significant milestone in enhancing emergency health response capabilities for crisis-affected populations. The collaboration has already yielded tangible results, with the delivery of a fully equipped field hospital on February 29 to support the health services provided by the Jordanian Royal Medical Services in Gaza. This invaluable contribution includes 50 beds, 38 tents, essential medical…