Mafia took control of migrant centre for a decade, received tens of millions of euros from state funds, Italian police say

Italian mobsters took charge of one of Europe’s largest migrant reception centres, using a Roman Catholic charity organisation as a cover to skim millions of euros in state funds, prosecutors have revealed. Police arrested 68 people in early morning raids in southern Italy, including a priest and the head of the local Misericordia association that …

UNHCR spokesperson: More than 1,350 people are now missing or dead in the Mediterranean Sea

Reports emerging from the sea rescue effort between Italy and Libya suggest around 20 men, women and children are missing and feared dead after rescuers were able to pluck some 500 survivors from the Mediterranean Sea over the weekend. Information gathered by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in Italy indicates that the survivors were rescued …

Germany and Italy want to take control of Libya-Niger border to stem flow of migrants

The interior ministers of Germany and Italy have written to Brussels urging the creation of an “EU Mission” at the border between Libya and Niger “as soon as possible,” after over 40,000 people traveled through the North African country into Europe this year. “The first months of this year have shown that our efforts up …

Growing row in Italy over claims of NGOs colluding with smugglers

There is growing controversy in Italy over claims that some NGOs involved in the rescue of migrants at sea have been colluding with Libyan people smugglers. Italy’s justice minister slammed the claims as “lies” and the Sicilian prosecutor behind the accusations has been called before the High Council of the Judiciary next week to explain. …

Hungary completes new anti-migrant border fence with Serbia

Hungary says it has finished building a second fence on the border with Serbia to keep migrants out. The double layer barrier stretches for 155 kilometres and comes equipped with alarms and thermal imaging cameras. Fences went up along the southern borders with Serbia and Croatia in 2015 after an estimated 400,000 migrants and refugees, …

Greece orders financial probe of refugee NGO

Greek judicial authorities have ordered an investigation into allegations that staff at a European Union-funded NGO sexually exploited refugees and misused money intended for their welfare. Immigration Minister Ioannis Mouzalas on Monday handed Supreme Court prosecutor Xeni Dimitriou a letter from the EU’s top humanitarian aid official outlining the allegations. The NGO allegedly involved was …

Austria passes law to jail migrants making false refugee claims

The Austrian cabinet has approved a law that will condemn refugees who make false statements in their applications to six months in prison and a fine of 5,000 euros ($5,373). Children whose applications have false information will be sentenced to three months in prison. The law was prepared by the interior ministry and passed with …

Italy threatens to close docks to migrant rescue boats to force EU to act over crisis

The Italian government is considering blocking boats carrying migrants from landing at its ports after nearly 11,000 refugees arrived on its shores in five days. It has been reported that the government has given its ambassador to the EU, Maurizio Massari, a mandate to raise the issue formally with the European commission to seek permission …

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