Italy warns of new migrant surge with “tens of thousands” planning to cross from Libya – BBC News

Italy is warning it needs more help to deal with a big increase in the number of migrants arriving there via boat from Libya. There are reports that tens of thousands of people are waiting to cross the Mediterranean.

The main gateway is the tiny island of Lampedusa, which lies between Sicily and the North African coast. More than 2,000 migrants have landed there in recent days on overcrowded boats run by people-smugglers.

The situation threatens to overwhelm the island’s limited facilities and the EU is calling on other member states to help.

Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting from Lampedusa by Mark Lowen.

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