ROME
Commander of Italy's navy, Admiral Giuseppe De Giorgi said Thursday that Operation Mare Nostrum, the country's humanitarian relief operation launched in October 2013 to save illegal immigrants in distress at sea, has not led to an increase in the number of people emigrating to Italy.
"The surge of immigration began long before Mare Nostrum. Social and geopolitical factors are behind the increase in the number of immigrants to Italy," De Giorgi told reporters at the Foreign Press Association.
De Giorgi said that although Algeria can keep its borders under check, he cannot claim the same for Libya, adding that the economic differences between Africa and Europe are a major factor. "People immigrate to Europe for a better life. A lot of the immigrants coming to Italy do not claim refugee status. They are more interested in just using Italy as a port of entry into Europe, and go to other countries such as Norway and Sweden where they have family or friends."
De Giorgi continued saying that the Italian Navy has helped around 18,000 immigrants since the start of the operation 172 days ago, adding that two vessels involved in human trafficking were also captured, and 66 traffickers arrested. “The only thing this operation has changed is the elimination of fatalities," he stressed.
On October 3, 2013, a boat carrying approximately 500 illegal migrants sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa killing 366. This was followed by a similar incident only a week later when a boat carrying over 200 migrants capsized off Italy's coast claiming 27 of the lives on board and triggering the launch of Operation Mare Nostrum.
Instability in Africa and the Middle East has seen many migrants attempting to enter Europe through Italy near the island of Lampedusa and the channel of Sicily, which is categorized as one of the "darkest places" by the International Organization for Migration.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
