Thousands of migrants rescued over the weekend arrive in Sicily
- 10 years ago
Migrants rescued at sea by the Italian navy and coastguards arrive in the Sicilian port of Augusta Sunday.
They're relieved to be safe.
Officials said more than 3,500 were rescued off the coast of Sicily this weekend.
Humanitarian staff were on hand to help the migrants, mostly from North Africa and Syria, enter temporary reception centers.
In downtown Augusta, residents said they felt overwhelmed by the constant arrival of migrant boats.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) AUGUSTA RESIDENT SILVANA SAYING:
"Because now the influx of migrants is really excessive and in my opinion we can't keep them. Not because we are bad but because we can't give them proper help. Augusta doesn't have the resources for this enormous influx."
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) AUGUSTA RESIDENT GIOVANNI SAYING:
"I hope that Europe will intervene in a decisive manner to help us resolve the problems that obviously this huge influx of migrants is bringing us."
Another resident sai
They're relieved to be safe.
Officials said more than 3,500 were rescued off the coast of Sicily this weekend.
Humanitarian staff were on hand to help the migrants, mostly from North Africa and Syria, enter temporary reception centers.
In downtown Augusta, residents said they felt overwhelmed by the constant arrival of migrant boats.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) AUGUSTA RESIDENT SILVANA SAYING:
"Because now the influx of migrants is really excessive and in my opinion we can't keep them. Not because we are bad but because we can't give them proper help. Augusta doesn't have the resources for this enormous influx."
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) AUGUSTA RESIDENT GIOVANNI SAYING:
"I hope that Europe will intervene in a decisive manner to help us resolve the problems that obviously this huge influx of migrants is bringing us."
Another resident sai