Migration: Dozens Of Algerian “Harraga” Flock To The Coast Of Italy

Italian security sources told local media outlets that a large batch of illegal immigrants commonly known as “harraga” docked in small boats off the coast of Sardinia, in the south of the country.

 The same sources confirmed that the Italian police forces stopped before midnight last night, 62 illegal immigrants who claimed to be “Algerians”, while 14 others were transferred to the capital of the island, Cagliari, and at three o’clock, arrived another group of 30 people to Porto Pino, south of Sardinia, adding that another vessel anchored at dawn on the coast of Kya, in Cagliari.

The Italian authorities expressed serious concern about the occurrence of deadly sinking at sea due to bad weather conditions, with strong winds and rain, and the conditions of the sea, which continues to deteriorate, citing information received about the interception of 23 small boats off the Italian coasts and their prevention from leaving, stressing that  the incoming illegal immigrants had been evacuated to a temporary reception center nearby.

In the same context, “Echorouk” learned from a reliable source in Annaba, far eastern Algeria, that several makeshifts boats left several days ago; some were intercepted by the navy and some others managed to escape, including a boat which carried a number of young people, hailing mostly from the Old City and some neighborhoods of Annaba province.

The mother of one of them confirmed that her son, who had sailed with a group of 8 Algerian youngsters, had phoned her and confirmed that they were now being held in one of the Italian reception centers, adding that she had no information about the other boat that had taken off at the same time carrying more than 15 people.

The creeping phenomenon of illegal immigration through the “boats of death”, stemming from the precarious living conditions within society, often cause many tragedies and ignite the fears of parents who are worried about the fate of their departing children, especially about the hovering risk of drowning owing to the strong winds and pouring rains in the outer sea.