News Flash: Refugees Fleeing Violence in Tunisia Result in Emergency Declared by Italy

 
Map courtesy of WordTravels

Italy’s government reportedly (and here) called a humanitarian emergency on Saturday after thousands of asylum-seekers sailed across the Meditarranean from Tunisia. “The cabinet today . . . has proclaimed a state of humanitarian emergency following the influx of the large number of citizens from North Africa,” the government said in a statement. The statement said that the decision to call an official emergency would enable civil protection officers “to take immediate action needed to control this phenomenon and assist citizens who have fled from North Africa.”

Politically-charged violence, which first hit the international media weeks ago, continues to plague Tunisia.

KJ