Italy braces for bigger migrant influx

World Today

Italy is concerned that the new migrant deal between European Union and Turkey could increase migrant arrivals in the country.

It is calling for an agreement between the EU and Italy to help with the influx. CCTV’s Dan Whitehead reports from Rome.

More than 16,000 migrants crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Italy in the first quarter of 2016, up from 10,000 during the same period last year.

And the fear is the new migrant deal between the EU and Turkey will force more to try to make this journey.

Italy’s Interior Minister Angelina Alfarno said in a recent interview that the EU should do more to strike deals with African nations which could see a return of migrants in exchange for aid.

Analysts say that could be difficult to achieve.

The EU re-location scheme for refugees in need of protection doesn’t apply to many of the migrants arriving in Italy from sub-Saharan Africa.

In fact, so far only around 500 refugees have been settled in other EU countries.

The lack of options for those arriving is a concern for workers on the frontline of the crisis.

For now Italy’s infrastructure is coping but the question is for how long.