Large numbers of migrants and refugees arriving in Europe cross some part of the Mediterranean. The purpose of this website is to take a look at the most important route, that of the Central Mediterranean, by focusing on both maritime and political events.
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Maritime Events
Political Events
April 2024
30
- Around 17'000 Italy maritime arrivals so far, 68 in Malta UNHCR
25
- Immigration attempt thwarted in Zuwara (Libya) LObs
- Libyan-European talks on combating migration LObs
23
- 19 human corpses fished out of sea near Sfax by Tunisian forces TAP
- UK Parliament passes law permitting Rwanda migrant expulsion BBC
18
- Italy intercepts two groups of migrants, 45 and 127, departing from Libya LObs
- President Saied: 'Tunisia will never be a transit country for migrants' TAP
7
6
3
1
March 2024
31
- 11'000 Italy maritime arrivals so far, 67 at Malta UNHCR
- Tunisian Interior Minister and new Italiam ambassador discuss migration issues TAP
18
17
7
February 2024
27
23
19
14
- The IOM reports the return of 442 migrants departing for Europe, amounting to a total 1004 so far this year LObs
6
1
28
- 7 migrants arrive at Torre Salsa (Sicilia) GdS
- Two-day Africa-Italy summit to be held in Rome, migration a topic TAP
26
21
9
6
4
2
December 2023
31
- 153'656 Med arrivals in Italy during 2023, 380 in Malta UNHCR
- Frontex: 380'000 migrants arrived in EU last year, up 17% from 2022, 41% of total crossed Central Med Frontex
- Positive Maltese migration results in 2023: 380 rescues 315 repatriations, 150 EU relocations ToM
- 974 migrants died in Central Med this year, 1'372 disappeared ANSAmed
- Several migrants rescued off Zuwara (Libya), several found dead LObs
30
26
- 79 migrants arrive at Lampedusa GdS
- Returns of Tunisian emigrant earnings amount till October to 65% of external debt ANSAmed
25
- 118 migrants rescued by NGO 'Sea Watch 5' taken to Carrara (Toscana), 150 rescued by GC taken to Lampedusa GdS
22
- Palestinian baby born safely on board Italian military vessel 'Volcano' stationed off Gaza ANSAmed
19
- Lampedusa migrant arrivals augmented 200% this year compared to 2022 GdS
- Tunisia returns some sub-Saharan African migrants to their country and emphasizes conformity with international law TAP
13
- Libya, in cooperation with Int. Org. for Migration, returns 960 migrants to various parts of Africa LObs
7
6
3
November 2023
30
29
- EU: Number of Libya arrivals has increased significantly while that of Tunisia has decreased after signing new agreement LObs
- At Brussels Van der Leyen opens 'Global Conference against Trafficking' GdS
18
16
12
11
8
- Chancellor Scholz examines whether German migration checks could be handled outside country BBC
7
- Another 300 migrants disembark at Lampedusa GdS
2
October 2023
31
29
28
25
22
21
- 139'766 Italy maritime arrivals, 315 in Malta UNHCR
- First trucks carrying relief material from Egypt into Gaza BBC
14
10
6
- Italian 'Diciotti' rescues 40 migrants off Lampedusa departing from Tunisia GdS
5
4
3
- 128 migrants disembark at Roccella Jonica (Calabria) ANSA
2
1
September 2023
30
27
- 59 migrants arrive at Locride (Calabria) despite bad weather ANSA
- Meloni appeals to Med9 partners for quick and effective migration action ANSAmed
24
22
21
20
19
18
- Italy extends migrant detention period to 18 months and emphasizes repatriation ToM
17
15
- 'Aurora' assisted by GdF rescues 84 migrants off Lampedusa, to disembark at Catania GdS
13
12
5
- So far 28% more EU visa applications than last year, including Norway and Switzerland ANSAmed
August 2023
31
30
- Frontex and GdF rescue 270 migrants and head for Lampedusa GdS
- Tunisian President Saied and Italian PM Meloni speak over phone TAP
28
27
26
- Libyan Red Crescent finds two bodies off the beach LObs
25
24
- EU ambassador and Libyan PM discuss enhanced migration cooperation LObs
23
- 40 migrants rescued by 'Life Support' of ONG Emergency reach port of Ortona (Chieti) ANSA
- Tunisia and Germany agree to improve migration cooperation TAP
21
20
19
- 36 migrants rescued by commercial ship and taken over by GC land at Pozzallo (Sardinia) GdS
- Sea Watch vessel 'Aurora' with 72 migrants on board unwilling to head for Trapani, prefers Lampedusa GdS
- 40 migrants rescued by NGO 'Open Arms' disembarking at Lampedusa GdS
- 76 migrants rescued by GC disembark at Roccella Jonica (Calabria). ANSA
18
16
15
- 76 migrants rescued by 'Life Support' of NGO Emergency disembark at Naples ANSA
- Spain dismantles trafficking network using Libya as transition point for Syrian migrants LObs
12
- Tunisian CG rescues 13 migrants, two victims TAP
- GC rescues 9 migrants off Sicily, 3 dead GdS
- 623 migrants rescued by 'Ocean Viking' to disembark at Lampedusa and Civitavecchia GdS
- 5 Lampedusa landings with 113 migrants GdS
- Six Lampedusa arrivals with 638 migrants ANSA
- 1'200 migrants arrive at Lampedusa in 24 hours ANSA
- 250 migrants disembark at Pantelleria (Sicily), 100 minors among them GdS
10
7
- Two vessels in trouble off Lampedusa, around 100 rescued by GC, 2 dead and 30 missing ANSA
6
4
3
2
1
- 61 sub-Saharan migrants rescued off Lampedusa after their boats collapse GdS
- Libyan Red Crescent provides aid to over 600 migrants at Tunisian border GdS
July 2023
31
28
- 104 migrants rescued by Frontex and GdF arrive at Lampedusa GdS
25
24
22
21
- 652 migrants on 17 different vessels land at Lampedusa GdS
- Lampedusa fishermen complain about losses caused by massive migration activities GdS
20
- Italian and Tunisian Interior Ministers discuss migration TAP
18
17
15
14
- According to UNICEF 289 minors died so far this year crossing the Central Med GdS
12
11
- Maltese PM and Tunisian President discuss migration TAP
10
9
8
6
- 500 migrants relocated from Lampedusa to Reggio Calabria ANSA
- Libyan PM and Tunisian President agree to enhance migration cooperation LObs
5
- 59 migrants rescued by GC arrive at Lampedusa GdS
4
3
- GC rescues 45 sub-Saharan Africans in Italian SAR zone GdS
2
June 2023
30
- 60'352 Italy maritime arrivals so far this year, 141 Malta arrivals UNHCR
29
28
- 87'026 sea arrivals in Italy so far this year, 177 at Malta UNHCR
- 87'026 maritime arrivals in Italy so far this year, 177 in Malta
- 259 rescued migrants arrive at Lampedusa GdS
- According to Frontex 140% more migrants crossed Central Med
- 87'000 sea arrivals in Italy so far this year, 177 at Malta UNHCR
- 90 migrants rescued by cargo ship to disembark at Pozzallo (Sicily) GdS
27
- Bad weather reduces Lampedusa migrant arrivals GdS
- European Council HR Commissioner praises Lampedusa treatment of migrants GdS
24
22
- 146 migrants land at Lampedusa GdS
19
18
17
- 103 migrants arrive at Roccella Jonica (Calabria) ANSA
- EU Commissioner Johansson proposals on Med migration GdS
16
- Search for victims of Greek migrant accident continues, hundreds feared missing BBC
- Tunisian PM Bouden visits UNHCR in Geneva to discuss migration TAP
15
14
13
12
11
7
5
2
May 2023
29
28
27
- 'Humanity 1' (of NGO SOS Humanity) rescues 88 migrants off Libya ANSAmed
24
- Italian GC 'Diciotti' rescued 223 migrants off Sicily to be taken to Pozzallo; 'Life Support' of NGO Emergency rescues another 500 off Malta GdS
23
17
- Macron at Council of Europe summit: 'Italy must not be left alone to handle massive migration pressure' ANSAmed
16
- MsF 'Geo Barents' rescues 26 migrants off Libya ANSA
15
14
11
- For 'Union of Med Countries' migration management is achieved by more EU integration rather than by border policing ANSAmed
7
6
5
2
- In four days around 3'000 migrants transferred out of Lampedusa GdS
30
29
- In Sfax (Tunisia) main operator suspected of migation trafficking arrested TAP
28
- Tunisia and EU agree to strengthen fight against migrant trafficking ANSA
27
26
- So far 2'301 migrants have arrived in Italy on NGO vessels, amounting to 5.9% of roughly 39'000 in all ANSA
- UNHCR reports 36'339 maritime arrivals in Italy so far UNHCR
- 62 sub-Saharan migrants rescued by GC disembark at Lampedusa, 2 dead GdS
- Tunisian CG has stopped 17 efforts involving 524 migrants, mostly sub-Saharan Africans but also 72 Tunisians ANSA
- 40 migrants rescued by GC disembark at Crotone (Calabria) ANSA
- To improve migration controls France to station 150 additional officers at the border with Italy ANSA
24
23
22
19
- 164 migrants disembark at Crotone (Calabria) rescued by CG and Frontex ANSA
18
- 42 sub-Saharan Africans rescued off Lampedusa GdS
17
16
12
- FRONTEX: 300% more Central Med crossings during first Quarter compared to 2022 ANSA
10
9
- Nearly 500 migrants, mostly sub-Saharan Africans, arrive from Tunisia in various landings at or near Lampedusa, two victims GdS
6
5
- MsF 'Geo Barents' rescues 500 migrants in Maltese waters GdS
- Schifani (Sicily gov.): Big migration wave expected when weather improving ANSA
1
- Another 163 migrants arrive at Lampedusa in four landings GdS
- Over 50'000 people receive MsF services last year LObs
31
30
- Rising number of shipwreck bodies exceeds Sfax (Tunisian) forensic capacities TAP
- EU denies paying money to keep immigrants in Libya LObs
29
- Female migrant body found near Lampedusa ANSA
- EU Parliament passes four measures regulating migration ANSAmed
27
- 650 Middle Eastern migrants land at Roccella Jonica (Calabria) ANSA
26
24
23
22
- Meloni tells parliament that Italy 'has been left alone to prevent migrant tragedies at sea' ANSAmed
18
- 346 migrants rescued off Lampedusa taken to Augusta and Catania by CG 'Datillo' ANSA
15
- Malta reports that Syrian airline is transporting Bengali migrants to Libya LObs
14
7
6
5
2
1
- Meloni: 'EU working on rules avoiding irregular migration and guaranteeing security' ANSA
28
24
- In one day, 1'046 migrants arrive in Lampedusa in 25 different landings; 38 rescued by GdF disembark at Pozzallo (Sicily) GdS
23
- 194 migrants arrive on two vessels at Lampedusa ANSA
- Five Tunisian migrant traffikers arrested by Lampedusa GdF GdS
22
20
19
17
- Tunisia launches platform on national migration data ANSAmed
16
15
14
- 84 migrants rescued off Libya by SOS Med 'Ocean Viking' ANSA
6
- 200 migrants rescued by Italian CG during severe storm, headed for Pozzallo disembarkation GdS
- Tunisian union proposes to review Italian 'Decreto Flussi' which provides for a workforce of 82'705 nationals TAP
4
- 14 Tunisians arrested for illegally entering Italy in Trapani (Sicily) region GdS
- Civil society organizations demand more humane migrant policies from Tunisian government TAP
3
2
1
January 2023
30
- 13 migrants missing after boat sinks off Sfax (Tunisia) with a total of 24 on board and some rescued by CG ANSAmed
26
24
- 'Geo Barents' rescues 69 migrants off Libya ANSA
- EU received over 900'000 asylum requests in 2022 ANSAmed
19
- France signs a 'Treaty of Friendship' with Spain paralelling that with Italy signed earlier ANSAmed
18
- 105'000 migrants arrived in Italy by sea in 2022 according to Guardia Costiera ANSA
- Italian Interior Minister thanks Tunisia for cooperating in preventing migration departures ANSA
17
- IOM: 17 migrants died so far in 2023 on way to Italy ANSAmed
15
12
- MsF 'Geo Barents' with 73 on board arrives at Ancona ANSA
- Italy aims at signing agreements with countries of migrant departure ANSAmed
10
- Italian FM Tajani to Tunisian counterpart: Stop migration departures ANSAmed
9
7
6
5
- 74 migrants arrive at Lampedusa; one body found ANSA
- NGOs argue that new Italian migration code severely limits SAR operations ANSAmed
3