Protest Erupts in Rome Over Migrant Deal After Shipwreck Tragedy

Hundreds of migrants and human rights activists gathered in Rome on March 16, 2024, to protest Italy’s controversial migrant deal with Libya. This demonstration followed a tragic incident in the Mediterranean Sea, where approximately 20 individuals are feared dead after a recent shipwreck.

The deal, originally established in 2017 and recently renewed under Prime Minister Georgia Meloni’s hard-right government, involves Italy financing and training the Libyan coastguard. In exchange, Libya is tasked with preventing migrants from departing towards Italy or returning those at sea back to its shores. This agreement is set for renewal next month.

During the protest, many migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa shared harrowing accounts of their experiences in Libya. A moment of silence was observed for those who have lost their lives attempting to cross the Mediterranean. Activist Sarita Fratini emphasized the dangers faced by migrants, stating, “In the central Mediterranean, there is a line called the line of death. In the Libyan area, you get captured. In the north, you die because there is no one there.”

Fratini has provided legal assistance to migrants who were taken back to Libya after being intercepted in the Mediterranean. Rights organizations and former detainees have condemned the detention centers in Libya for widespread abuse, torture, and other crimes.

Among the attendees was Irene Dea, a 46-year-old from the Ivory Coast, who recounted her attempts to reach Europe. She revealed that on her first attempt, 12 people died in the Mediterranean, and after her boat was forced back, she endured six months at the notorious Az-Zawiyah detention centre near Tripoli. “In this prison, women are raped. You don’t eat… it was total anguish,” she recalled. “I saw women being raped with my own eyes.”

Concerns have been growing regarding the actions of Libya’s coastguard. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have reported increasing incidents of the coastguard shooting at boats carrying migrants. Recently, the charity Alarm Phone reported a fatal shooting involving a boat carrying 113 migrants southeast of Malta, with subsequent interviews revealing that rescued migrants had reported being fired upon.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicated that more than 1,000 lives have been lost in the Mediterranean so far this year. On March 15, Italy’s coastguard was involved in a search operation for survivors from a shipwrecked vessel that was carrying around 30 people approximately 50 miles southeast of Lampedusa. So far, seven individuals have been rescued, with another four retrieved by a nearby merchant ship. One body has been found, with ongoing search efforts involving Italian and Maltese patrol vessels and aircraft.

Criticism of the rescue operations has mounted, particularly from Sea-Watch International, which operates migrant rescue boats. They stated, “Italy and Malta knew about the boat since yesterday afternoon, thanks to Alarm Phone, but did not send help until it was too late.” Alarm Phone added that they had alerted authorities about a boat carrying approximately 35 individuals, but claimed that no action was taken, leading to the tragic capsizing and fears of about 20 deaths.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean continues to provoke outrage and demands for change in Italy’s migrant policies, particularly as the renewal of the Libya deal approaches.