1100 migrants rescued in Mediterranean

Italy: Around 1100 migrants from Africa were on Sunday rescued from boats in the Strait of Sicily, Italy as they tried to enter Europe, as part of 11 rescue operations carried out by authorities in the Mediterranean said the Italian Coast Guard.


According to public broadcaster Rai, migrants were picked up from eight rubber rafts, a large boat and two punts by three units of the Italian Navy and the vessel Astral, operated by the an NGO the "Open Arms."

Data from the Italian Interior Ministry, said an estimated 100,328 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean from the North African coast this year, until August 9.

Recent data released by the International Organization for Migration on Friday, said about 105,342 migrants have reached Italy by boat this year, many of them migrating from Libya.

The data also estimated that 2,726 men, women and children attempting to make the journey have died during the same period, as thy are often packed into small vessels not ideal for the journey.