Eritrean refugees arrive in Romanian emergency transit centre from Tunisia

TIMISOARA, Romania, 20 April 2011 (UNHCR<)—Thirty Eritrean refugees have arrived at an emergency transit centre in western Romania after fleeing Libya and spending weeks in a crowded camp in Tunisia as UNHCR and its partners sought a solution for them.Read more<

UNHCR calls on States to uphold principles of rescue-at-sea and burden sharing

GENEVA, 8 APRIL 2011 (UNHCR<)—In light of the massive loss of life in the Mediterranean this week in a refugee boat capsizing, UNHCR is calling on the European Union (EU) to urgently put into place more reliable and effective mechanisms for rescue-at-sea.Read more<

Pope deeply moved by death of migrants fleeing Libya

VATICAN CITY, 7 APRIL 2011 (Zenit<)—The tragic death of some 250 migrants fleeing Libya has deeply moved Benedict XVI, a Vatican spokesman said today.

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20 bodies recovered as search for migrants continues

6 April 2011 (Times of Malta<)—Twenty bodies have been recovered so far in the Central Mediterranean as the search goes on for up to 130 migrants missing after their boat capsized off Lampedusa.  The Italian Coast Guard said the incident happened during a storm.Read more<

EU to admit Africans from Libya

24 March 2011 (The European Voice<)—Member states and European Commission will meet tomorrow to discuss fate of thousands of Africans who have fled Libya.Read more<

New migrant arrivals on Lampedusa lead to massive overcrowding

GENEVA, 21 March 2011 (IOM<)—The arrival of more than 1,630 irregular migrants on the Italian island of Lampedusa on Sunday 20 March and overnight Monday 21st has led to massive overcrowding at the migrant reception centre where IOM and partners monitor reception assistance and provide legal counselling to migrants,asylum-seekers and unaccompanied minors.Read more<