Italy sends aid mission for refugee efforts on Tunisian border

Italy sends aid mission for refugee efforts on Tunisian border

2011-03-04 05:08:52 GMT+7 (ICT)

ROME, ITALY (BNO NEWS) -- Italy on Thursday approved an aid mission to help refugees efforts on the Tunisian border, ANSA news agency reported.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said that the cabinet approved the humanitarian mission in order to address the thousands of displaced people on the border between Tunisia and Libya.

The situation, labeled by Frattini as a "real emergency," involves an estimated 120-140,000 people from Egypt and Tunisia fleeing from Libya where fierce fighting continues between President Muammar Gaddafi's forces and rebels.

The mission was an explicit request from the Tunisian and Egyptian governments to aid in the safe repatriation of both countries' citizens from the troubled Libya. The Italian government fears that an exodus across the Mediterranean may occur as well.

The other objective of the mission is to improve conditions at a refugee camp on the Libyan-Tunisian border run by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration.

"Italy will provide emergency aid in food, medical care and personal assistance because many people don't even have clothes anymore," Italy's Foreign Minister said.

Starting in February, thousands of Tunisian migrants reached Italian shores near Sicily. Frattini called for EU assistance and demanded Tunisian authorities to establish border patrols to prevent the immigrant flows.

On Wednesday night, three boats reached the island of Lampedusa between Africa and Sicily carrying 159 migrants. During the day, approximately 500 more migrants arrived. Over the last 24 hours, 10 boats have arrived as well.

Italian civilian and merchant ships and charter planes will help refugees going back to Egypt after the "emergency phase" is handled by the navy and air force, Frattini added. Planes will fly Egyptians from the island of Djerba to Cairo and ships will take them from the port of Zarzis to Alexandria.

Italy is expecting help from the European Union and member states. Cecilia Malmström, member of the European Commission, said last week that EU funds will be mobilized to assist Italy.

North African immigrants have attempted to reach Italian coasts in small fishing boats, but the Italian coast guard is preventing entry and returning them to the harbors of Lampedusa.

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