Italy launches Mediterranean operation to cope with migrant issue

The Italian government on Monday launched an air and naval operation aimed at preventing that more migrant boat disasters occur in the Mediterranean, days after more than 300 African people died while attempting the perilous crossing to Italy. In the so-called Mare Nostrum operation, Italy will use "for the first time an amphibious craft with the capacity to exercise command and control, with long-range helicopters, hospital capacity and large space for rescued migrants," Defense Minister Mario Mauro said after a cabinet meeting. He added that the amphibious craft will be ready to go into action on Friday and will add to another four navy ships, including two patrol boats and two frigates, as well as some drones and aircraft. Prime Minister Enrico Letta highlighted that this military and humanitarian operation will be fundamental to mark a sea change in dealing with the frequent shipwrecks. "It is intolerable that the Mediterranean should be a sea of death," he stressed. Italian authorities said that the rescued migrants will not necessarily be brought to Italy but will be evaluated according to the place where the rescue takes place. Various ministries are expected to share the cost of the operation, that would set a "strong and clear example" in the first implementation of the new southern border policy of Frontex, the European Union control agency which coordinates and develops European border management. More than 300 migrants died in the past days after two packed boats capsized on their way to the Italian island of Lampedusa. The 20 square kilometers island, which is Italy's southern-most point and lies just 110 kilometers from the coast of Tunisia, is seen by many African people as a gateway into Europe. Every year, thousands of illegal migrants try to land on the island crammed into dangerously overloaded boats. A study found that nearly 20,000 people died in the Mediterranean crossing over the past 25 years.