WEST: JANUARY 2014 SEES SURGE OF BOAT IMMIGRANTS ON ITALIAN SHORES

In January 2014, 2,156 illegal immigrants landed on the Italian coast: 10 times more than the first 30 days of 2013 when they were 217. Totally, last year, 42,925 migrants reached Italian shores: 325% more than in 2012. 3,818 of them were unaccompanied foreign minors. Sicily is the Italian Region which is affected by the phenomenon the most. With 37,886 migrants, 88% of the annual total. 14,753 of which only in Lampedusa. The main country of departure was Libya (27,314 migrants), followed by Egypt (9,215) and Turkey (2,077). While, as far as the country of origin is concerned (identified on the basis of the statements released at the time of landing), in the first place we find Syria: 11,307 migrants, a number increased over the previous year when the Syrians were just 582. Followed by Eritrea (9,834, more than 4 times than in 2012), Somalia (9,263) and Egypt (2,618). These are the figures released by the deputy minister Bubbico during the hearing to the Committee on Migration of the Council of Europe. http://www.west-info.eu/january-sees-surge-of-boat-immigrants-on-italian-shores/