Lampedusa, Italy
Italy officially protested to Libya this week after 800 Africans, crammed into three boats, landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa to claim asylum. Every summer, smugglers from Tunisia and Morocco use dilapidated, overcrowded boats to transport thousands of desperate refugees. Hundreds die during the journey, and those who survive land on the Italian islands that are closest to Africa. This year, Libya, with its long and porous border, has been a favored launching point. Libyan and Italian leaders recently signed an agreement to begin joint policing of the coasts, and the smugglers are now rushing to move their human cargo before the new patrols start.
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