Italy has warned that an influx of migrants arriving on its shores after fleeing the
turmoil in North Africa could threaten the institutional and social structures of
Europe. Over 5,000 migrants, mostly from Tunisia, have landed on the Italian island
of Lampedusa in recent days following uprisings that led to the removal of the Tunisian
and Egyptian presidents.
Italian Interior Minister Roberto Marconi has described
the flow of migrants as “an exodus of biblical proportions that has never been seen
before.” Susy Hodges interviewed James Stapleton, the International Communications
Coordinator for the Jesuit Refugee Services.
Asked whether he agreed with
the minister's assessment and use of language, Stapleton replies: "No, I think the
statements by the Italian authorites are unhelpful at this moment, a movement of 5,000
people is certainly not a small amount ... but for a country of 60 million, it should
be manageable."
When asked what action he would like to see taken, Stapleton
says: "We call on the European states ... to continue to accept the arrivals of people
and ensure they have access to asylum procedures." "What we're extremely concerned
about, is the statements where the Italian authorites are calling on the North African
states and other European states to prevent people from leaving."
Several dozen
migrants are believed to have drowned in the latest exodus and Stapleton goes on to
remind us about the heavy loss of life during these dangerous journeys to reach Europe: "14,000
people have died trying to get into Europe in the last 15-20 years" and he adds that
more casualties are certain in the future: "If the situation continues to be unstable
in North Africa, then we're going to continue to see people dying." Listen: