Thousands rescued at sea in springtime surge of migrants

BRUSSELS: More than 6 000 migrants have been rescued in the Mediterranean Sea in recent days while attempting to make the dangerous crossing from North Africa to Europe, an official said earlier this week, at the resumption of a flow of people fleeing poverty and war.

The surging figures suggest that growing numbers of migrants, refugees and others – many from Africa and the Middle East – are trying to make the sea passage to Europe as the weather warms and smugglers increase operations.

The influx of people has become a major political issue in Europe, as anti-immigrant populists crusade against mainstream leaders and look to win power in France and make gains in Germany in polls this year.

EU leaders have signed deals with Libya and some of the sub-Saharan countries from where most refugees stem.

The Mediterranean has become the main corridor for migrants trying to reach Europe aboard smugglers’ boats from Libya and elsewhere after authorities largely choked off sea routes between Turkey and Greece last year.

The dramatic spike in rescues since last week suggested even greater migrant traffic ahead, said Joel Millman, a spokesperson for Geneva-based International Organisation for Migration, which monitors migrant flows.

“This is typical of spring, getting busy. But not typical to have numbers so high this early and the deaths that go with it.”

About 500 migrants drowned and more than 20000 had been intercepted at sea and brought to Italy and other European ports since January, Millman said. He said that if current trends held, the traffic across the Mediterranean would be higher than it was last year but lower than in 2015, the peak year.