China News Service, August 4th. According to Euronet, citing EUN News Agency, in recent days, Italy has ushered in a new wave of refugees while responding to the crisis of the new crown epidemic. The continuous illegal landings of refugees, the surge in confirmed cases of refugees, the riots in refugee camps and the escape of refugee shelters are plagued by Italy. In this regard, Italian Prime Minister Conte made a strong statement on the refugee issue for the first time, stating that no immigrants will be allowed to enter Italy illegally.
Data map: Italian Prime Minister Conte delivered a speech in Congress.
According to reports, on the evening of August 2, local time, a total of 8 illegal ships in the southern coast of Italy smuggled 200 refugees to Lampedusa for landing, causing the number of refugees in the refugee center to surge to 1,050, which exceeded More than 10 times the capacity of refugee shelters.
On the 3rd, local time, another refugee escape occurred in Port Empedocle, Sicily, Italy. 50 refugees from Tunisia escaped from the camp virus detection center and their whereabouts are unknown. At present, the police are trying their best to find the refugees who have fled, and 5 refugees have returned to the shelter.
In the afternoon of the same day, 20 refugees from the town of Campomarino in the Molise region fled the shelter. A few days before August 2nd, the asylum center had just received 83 refugees, and the local police have been involved in investigating the escape of refugees.
Since July 21, the Udine Refugee Center has been required to quarantine 400 refugees for two weeks due to confirmed cases. From August 2 to 3, riots occurred in the Udine Refugee Center and Treviso Refugee Center one after another. Some refugees even smashed the infirmary and medical equipment.
Data map: Italian immigration ship.
On the morning of August 3, the situation in the Udine Refugee Center escalated into riots. Dozens of protesting refugees occupied the gates of the camp, and the refugees in the camp began to set fire to furniture and articles. The incident attracted a large number of military guards and maintaining order. Local officials said that the central government underestimated the destructive effects of refugees and the catastrophic crisis brought about by the new crown epidemic.
In response to the continuous escalation of social conflicts caused by refugees, Italian Prime Minister Conte changed his gentle attitude towards immigration issues on the 3rd and pointed out, “We will never allow anyone to enter Italy illegally, especially at a time when Italy has encountered an epidemic crisis that has not been encountered in a century. Regarding all illegal acts that undermine the results of the epidemic and endanger public safety, the judicial and police departments must have zero tolerance and crack down and severely punished them in accordance with the law."
Conte said that the Italian citizens must not be allowed to make sacrifices in the fight against the new crown epidemic in vain, and the government must dutifully defend national security, protect the health of the people and social stability. For those refugees who try to evade health testing and who pose a threat to public health, criminal responsibility must be investigated in accordance with the law. (Boyuan)