Rome [Italy], May 1: A Tunisian boat ambushed a refugee dinghy in Italy, resulting in a four-year-old girl falling off the boat and going missing, the ANSA news agency reported late on Saturday, citing the Italian coast guard.
The Tunisian fishing boat had been attempting to steal the engine of the refugee boat near the island of Lampedusa, which was carrying 34 people. According to authorities, the girl fell off the boat during a scuffle and has been missing since. The boat, which had departed from the Tunisian coastal town of Sfax, was later picked up by the Italian coast guard and Guardia di Finanza, the police department which handles crimes related to smuggling. The rescued people were taken to Lampedusa, ANSA wrote. When refugees arrive on the Mediterranean island, they are taken to a reception camp. The camp, which has a capacity for around 400 people, currently houses around 2,000.
Lampedusa is between Sicily and North Africa, around 190 kilometres from Sfax. Thousands of people drown every year trying to cross the dangerous route to Europe, controlled by illegal smugglers. Italy's new right-wing government has complicated conditions for refugees attempting to reach Italy.
Source: Qatar Tribune