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Johan Leman, 16 May 2021

May 1.In the period of 25 April – 1 May, 818 migrants were rescued/intercepted at sea and returned to Libya. (IOM_Libya)

May 3. The Greek coast guard says it has picked up nearly 170 migrants near the Peloponnese peninsula. People smugglers operating between Turkey and Greece often put migrants on unseaworthy boats. According to the dpa news agency, nearly 170 migrants drifting off the Peloponnese peninsula in a damaged boat were rescued by the Greek coast guard on Sunday (May 2). (InfoMigrants)

May 3.  The Libyan Crescent revealed that 50 migrants drowned off the Libyan coast, off Zawiya. Among them many Egyptians. The Libyan coastguard claims to know nothing about this. https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2021/05/03/libia-mezzaluna-rossa-50-migranti-morti-in-un-naufragio 8773bd9e-9f12-4eda-9cfb-d2de073cad1b.htlm

May 3.  The IOM has informed that 11 people on a small boat drowned on their way to Europe. The Libyan coastguard rescued 12. https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2021/05/03/libia-mezzaluna-rossa-50-migranti-morti-in-un-naufragio_8773bd9e-9f12-4eda-9cfb-d2de073cad1b.html

May 3.  The Italian Guardia di Finanza has intercepted has intercepted a sailing boat flying the Bulgarian flag off Vieste (Foggia). There were 35 Afghans on board, including 12 children. On board of the boat that has already been intercepted in September 2020 were also two Ukrainian smugglers. . https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2021/05/03/libia-mezzaluna-rossa-50-migranti-morti-in-un-naufragio_8773bd9e-9f12-4eda-9cfb-d2de073cad1b.html

May 3.  The German Sea Watch 4, with 455 migrants on board, who had been rescued during 6 interventions spread over 72 hours off the coast of Libya, was allocated the port of Trapani to go ashore. At the same time, it is reported that in Italy in 2021, 10,107 people have gone ashore irregularly, of which those 455 have to be added. On the 1^st of May, 977 people had reached Italy in this way. In this total there were 1,412 Tunisians, 1,237 Ivorian and 1,014 Bangladeshi. Among them also 1,232 minors. https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2021/05/03/libia-mezzaluna-rossa-50-migranti-morti-in-un-naufragio_8773bd9e-9f12-4eda-9cfb-d2de073cad1b.html

May 5. A special law in Sweden gives young Afghans six months after they finish school to find a job – or return to their home country. The move is part of a tightening of asylum policy. https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/32016/sweden-young-afghans-in-a-race-against-time

May 6.  In Timisoara, in western Romania, the number of asylum seekers has exploded. The number has risen from 4,000 to 6,000 in one year. On the field, the authorities are overwhelmed. (infoMigrants_fr)

May 6.  By 2020, five countries within the EU will have accepted 80% of the asylum seekers : France, Germany, Italy, Greece and Spain. https://twitter.com/InfoMigrants_fr/status/1390267600660140037/photo/1

May 9.  In Italy, the number of incoming boat refugees is again rising sharply. On the island of Lampedusa, between Sicily and North Africa, more than 1,400 people arrived on Sunday. https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20210509_97302052

May 9. In pictures dated May 9, IOM staff provide assistance to migrants who were intercepted off the Libyan coast and returned to Tripoli. IOM said that more than 700 migrants were intercepted by coast guards that day & at least 5 people had drowned when their boat capsized.(InfoMigrants)

May 10. Around 70 migrants landed in Malta on Tuesday after they were rescued in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile European countries are being asked to help Italy, where more than 2,000 people arrived over two days.(InfoMigrants)

May 10. Lebanese police say they have again prevented dozens of Syrians from reaching Cyprus by sea. Over the past year, there have been numerous attempts to smuggle migrants to the small EU member state. (InfoMigrants)

May10. Four migrants were rescued off the French coast on Tuesday as they tried to row to England. A further 29 migrants were also rescued after being stranded on rocks near Dunkirk. (InfoMigrants_fr)

May 10.  In 24 hours, 20 small boats arrived in Lampedusa  (boats also continued to arrive at night), bringing the total to 2128 people for that one hotspot. https://agrigento.gds.it/articoli/cronaca/2021/05/10/lampedusa-4-sbarchi-anche-nella-notte-oltre-2mila-migranti-arrivati-in-24-ore-990344d0-e1cb-44a0-a10c-c7a789e2f059/

May 10.  All 66 migrants were brought back to Dunkirk before being taken in charge by the Fire Brigade and then by the Border Police (PAF). (InfoMigrants_fr)

May 10.  More than 20 migrants are presumed dead after their boat sunk off the coast of Libya on Monday, the UNHCR reported. Only one body has been found. Another 42 people were rescued and returned to Libya. (InfoMigrants_fr)

May 11. A new report by GI_TOC investigates the migrant smuggling business and other illicit activities running through the Western Balkans. The report estimates that the migrant smuggling business alone could be worth up to €50 million per year in the region. (infoMigrants)

May 13.  The Libyan Navy claims to have rescued 151 West African migrants off the coast of Libya. http://alwasat.ly/news/libya/320380

May 14. The IOM has confirmed that at least 17 migrants are believed to have drowned in the Mediterranean on Wednesday evening. Their ship, which is thought to have departed from Libya, got into difficulty off the Tunisian coast. Two women were rescued. https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/32244/at-least-17-migrants-dead-off-tunisian-coast

May 14.  Tunisia, more than many other countries, possibly of interest to apply Australian model, rejects “reception centres for foreign migrant on their way to Europe” https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/32202/migrants-tunisian-premier-says-no-to-reception-centers?ref=tw

May 15. Roughly 80 unaccompanied underage migrants left the Italian island of Lampedusa on Wednesday. Their ship was headed for Porto Empedocle, Sicily. Hundreds of migrants have been transferred from Lampedusa, following the arrival of some 2,000 people last weekend. (infoMigrants)

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