The Italian coast guard found a dead newborn on a vessel carrying migrants on the Italian island of Lampedusa during a rescue operation, the ANSA news agency reported on Saturday, according to Reuters.
Migrants rescued off the island of LampedusaPhoto: Fotogramma / Zuma Press / Profimedia
The baby was born during the trip and died shortly after being born, ANSA reported, adding that there were about 40 migrants on the boat.
Earlier this week, a five-month-old baby drowned during a rescue operation off the island of Lampedusa after a boat carrying migrants at sea from North Africa capsized.
Almost 126,000 migrants have arrived in Italy this year, almost double the number on the same date in 2022.
Almost 7,000 migrants have arrived in Lampedusa this week, more than the island’s permanent population.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on Friday for the European Union to act together “with a naval mission, if necessary” to prevent migrants from crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa.
In a video message posted on social media, Meloni promised strict action in response to the increase in migrants arriving on the Peninsula this week.
