An Italian Navy vessel has embarked on a mission to transport the first batch of migrants to reception centres in Albania, following an agreement between the Italian and Albanian governments aimed at reducing the flow of illegal immigration.
The Italian newspaper “La Repubblica” reported that an initial screening was conducted on individuals to be transferred to ensure they meet the agreement’s criteria, including being from safe countries, not being at risk, and being male.
The Italian Ministry of Interior is overseeing the entire operation, with the first group expected to consist of approximately 400 individuals.
This initiative is part of Italy’s new strategy to manage the arrival of undocumented migrants on its shores, which includes a series of measures such as relocating certain groups of migrants to Albania.
This agreement, signed on November 6, 2023, has faced criticism from human rights organizations.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the Italian government has constructed two reception centres in Albania.
This marks the first agreement of its kind where an EU member state transfers migrants to a non-EU country, aiming to deter illegal immigration.
A European humanitarian organization has issued a stark warning, declaring 2023 as the worst year for deaths in the Mediterranean due to illegal immigration, with concerns that the numbers may continue to rise.
Marie Michel, a migration policy expert associated with the Italian branch of the German non-governmental organization Sos Humanity, conveyed this troubling information in a statement reported by the Italian news agency AKI on Thursday.
Michel expressed deep concern, stating, “A large number of people have drowned in the central Mediterranean region in 2023 compared to the previous year.”
She criticized the Italian government, claiming that instead of enhancing rescue capabilities, it has worsened the humanitarian catastrophe on the world’s deadliest migration route, hindering the efforts of non-governmental search and rescue organizations.
