Italy again calls for EU help after more migrant deaths

Italy on May 5 renewed its appeal to the EU for help in managing a relentless wave of migrant arrivals, after around 40 migrants died when their inflatable boat sank off the coast.

Survivors of the tragedy reported 137 people were on the vessel when it either deflated or exploded shortly before a spate of rescue operations this weekend that saw the Italian navy and coastguard save almost 6,000 people on the sea.
 
"Some (of the survivors from the inflatable boat) said 'very many' died, others said 'around 40'", Giovanna di Benedetto of Save the Children told AFP on May 5.
 
Dramatic footage that was widely shared May 5 on social networks showed dozens of mostly African migrants struggling to stay afloat after jumping off their sinking dinghy, desperately clinging to lifebuoys thrown from the deck of a cargo ship that came to their rescue.
 
It was unclear whether the images, which were also broadcast on television, were from the latest sinking.
 
Italian leaders anticipate a record number of arrivals on their southern shores between now and September, with last year's total of 170,000 already an unprecedented number.
 
"It's not enough to add 10 or so boats to those (operated) by the Italians," said Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni.
 
He also demanded the European Union help in the fight against human trafficking and make reforms to the process of granting asylum to migrants.
 
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini will brief the UN Security Council on the issue next week as the 15-member body holds a special meeting to discuss ways to address the crisis.
         
More than 1,750 migrants have perished in the waters between Libya and Italy since the start of this...