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 on the island after their three dinghies were intercepted by the finance police. This group, which included two women and 117 minors, claimed to be from Egypt, Sudan, Syria, and Tunisia. Their journey originated from Tunisia.
The night of May 28 saw an additional 143 migrants reaching Lampedusa. They arrived on four dinghies and were rescued by patrol boats from the coast guard and finance police. These groups varied in size from nine to 58 people, including about a dozen minors. All were taken to the Contrada Imbriacola hotspot, bringing the total number of guests to 289, including six unaccompanied minors.
Tragically, the body of a migrant minor was also brought to Lampedusa. The minor had been on the rescue ship Humanity 1, operated by SOS Humanity. On May 27, Humanity 1 rescued approximately one hundred migrants from two boats in Libyan SAR waters, where the deceased minor was found. The coast guard transported the minor’s body and their family to Lampedusa. Humanity 1 will not dock at Lampedusa but will instead proceed to its assigned safe port of Livorno.