Authorities in Lampedusa are grappling with the aftermath as a migrant boat headed from Libya to Italy capsized, leaving at least 20 individuals missing. The rescue efforts saved seven people, among them a young Syrian boy separated from his missing mother.
This tragic event underscores the perils of the Mediterranean migration route, particularly between Africa and Europe, where almost 24,500 migrants have died or gone missing since 2014, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The Italian government is prioritizing policies to mitigate these dangerous voyages. They recorded 66,320 landings in 2024, a significant decrease from previous years, aiming to curtail such risky passages to preserve lives.
(With inputs from agencies.)