News
114 migrants die in Europe in December
By MaltaMedia News
Feb 18, 2007 - 10:01:38 AM

At least 114 illegal immigrants lost their lives in Europe during the month of December last year, with one of the fatalities occurring just off the coast of Malta.

Another three migrants drowned in Turkish waters, while two illegal immigrants asphyxiated on a truck in which they were hidden on a ferry sailing to Italy. Quoting Fortress Europe, NewsCentralAsia said that four others victims were registered in three different s detention centers in Italy, France and Russia.

The largest tragedy, however, occurred between Senegal and the Canary islands, where 108 migrants lost their lives at sea. It is estimated that a total of 5,856 persons died along European Union frontiers since 1988, among them 1,949 missing at sea.

Last December EU leadersĄŻ announced plans to increase extra sea-patrols to locate migrants seeking to reach Europe from Africa and pledged a strategy on illegal immigration.

This means that round-the-clock patrols of the EU's southern borders should start by May under an agreement that aims to stem illegal migration from northern Africa to the EU.

The union is also set to start promoting lawful working routes to its labour market and make way for the possible introduction of a European version of the US green card.

Read more about this issue on MaltaMedia's special feature: Lanċa Ġejja u O©€ra Sejra: Malta and its migrations.