ROME, Nov 14 (Reuters) - More than 600 migrants, many of them Egyptians, arrived in southern Italy over the past 24 hours, officials said on Sunday, defying stormy winter seas in search of a better life in Europe. Coastguards rescued some 300 men and boys overnight who were packed on a fishing boat off the southern toe of Italy. Hours later, some 212 mainly Egyptian and Syrian migrants were taken off a second boat and brought to Roccella Jonica. Further to the south, 113 migrants, including at least eight women, reached the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa in two different landings. As of Nov. 12, 57,833 migrants have reached Italy so far this year against 31,213 in the same period of 2020 and just 9,944 in 2019.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 14, 2021 20:25 UTC