http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3495661/Return-horror-seas-Three-migrants-drown-2-400-refugees-saved-people-smugglers-boats-two-days.html
Return of horror on the seas: Three migrants drown as more than 2,400 refugees are saved from people smugglers' boats in two days
Some 2,400 migrants have been rescued trying to travel from Libya to Italy
Figure represents a spike after several quiet weeks in number of crossings
Italian authorities are wary of a surge due to tighter restrictions in Greece
By JAY AKBAR FOR MAILONLINE
More than 2,400 migrants and three corpses have been recovered from people smugglers' boats off Libya in 48 hours, Italy's coastguard said Wednesday.
After several quiet weeks, the figures represent a pick-up in the flow of migrants attempting to reach Italy via Libya. The route to Europe has been used by some 330,000 people since the start of 2014.
Prior to the latest rescues, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) had reported 9,500 people landing at Italian ports since the start of the year.
The numbers mark a dramatic increase in rescue operations in the Straits of Sicily after a recent lull in crossings to Italy from Libya, as the migrant Balkan route has taken center stage.
In years past, the warmer weather and calmer seas of spring and summer have often meant a surge in smuggling activity from north Africa toward Italy.
The coast guard said 1,467 people in a dozen rubber boats were rescued in different operations Wednesday involving Italian and Norwegian vessels participating in the EU's Frontex patrol operation. On Tuesday, another 951 migrants were rescued. Three bodies were also recovered.
With efforts underway to close the entry route through Greece, Italian authorities are wary of a surge in the number of migrants attempting to come through Libya.
So far there has been no indication of that happening. Numbers arriving from Libya have always fluctuated in line with weather conditions in the Mediterranean and other factors.
Arrivals were slightly down in 2015 compared with 2014. The trend might be related to the political chaos in Libya which might have deterred some migrants and has made it harder for those that do make the journey to find work there while awaiting boats to Italy.
Greece still remains the most popular entry point to Europe. The U.N. refugee agency says more than 1 million people have crossed into the county since the start of 2015.
UNHCR figures show more than 143,000 people - mostly Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans - have reached Greek islands by crossing the Aegean Sea since January 1.
UNHCR has repeatedly appealed to the European Union to take a more coordinated approach in handling the influx.
Received on Thu Mar 17 2016 - 06:38:36 EDT