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Country analysis

Italy

More than 105,000 migrants reached Italy by sea in 2022, a 55% increase in sea arrivals compared with 2021. Most migrants and asylum seekers are from Bangladesh, Egypt, or Tunisia. They are often fleeing from poverty, persecution, and/or conflict in their home countries and looking for security and better economic and social opportunities in Europe.

The migration journey through the Mediterranean Sea is considered one of the most dangerous. Migrant boats often capsize, or people remain stranded in the sea waiting for rescue from the Italian Government or humanitarian organisations. The number of dead or missing migrants in 2022 reached more than 1,300, slightly less than in 2021. Once rescued, migrants and asylum seekers have urgent needs that include access to safety, medical care, and protection, as well as registration and obtaining a legal status. Starting 2023, potential issues related to logistics and permission requests newly defined by the Italian Government will likely challenge and delay NGO and INGO rescue operations.

Access to work is considered the main challenge for migrants and refugees in Italy. Many also face difficulties accessing proper work contracts or renewing expired work permits, exposing them to the risk of exploitation. In some areas, such as Lampedusa Island, a lack of government support limits assistance to migrants and asylum seekers. In 2023, Lampedusa Island is expected to receive twice the number of migrants and asylum seekers it received in 2022.

(UNHCR accessed 30/01/2023, NRC et al. 09/11/2022, Al Jazeera 09/11/2022, Info Migrants 16/01/2023, EC 11/03/2022, MMC 16/07/2021)

More than 105,000 migrants reached Italy by sea in 2022, a 55% increase in sea arrivals compared with 2021. Most migrants and asylum seekers are from Bangladesh, Egypt, or Tunisia. They are often fleeing from poverty, persecution, and/or conflict in their home countries and looking for security and better economic and social opportunities in Europe.

The migration journey through the Mediterranean Sea is considered one of the most dangerous. Migrant boats often capsize, or people remain stranded in the sea waiting for rescue from the Italian Government or humanitarian organisations. The number of dead or missing migrants in 2022 reached more than 1,300, slightly less than in 2021. Once rescued, migrants and asylum seekers have urgent needs that include access to safety, medical care, and protection, as well as registration and obtaining a legal status. Starting 2023, potential issues related to logistics and permission requests newly defined by the Italian Government will likely challenge and delay NGO and INGO rescue operations.

Access to work is considered the main challenge for migrants and refugees in Italy. Many also face difficulties accessing proper work contracts or renewing expired work permits, exposing them to the risk of exploitation. In some areas, such as Lampedusa Island, a lack of government support limits assistance to migrants and asylum seekers. In 2023, Lampedusa Island is expected to receive twice the number of migrants and asylum seekers it received in 2022.

(UNHCR accessed 30/01/2023, NRC et al. 09/11/2022, Al Jazeera 09/11/2022, Info Migrants 16/01/2023, EC 11/03/2022, MMC 16/07/2021)

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Latest updates on country situation

15 June 2023

Access constraints restricting migrant rescue ships in Italian waters have recently increased, with incidents of Italian authorities detaining ships. Two ships faced detention for 20 days starting 2 June 2023, and a third ship faced another 20-day detention on 15 June for breaching new regulations imposed in January specifying the allowable number of rescue operations and ports to use. The constraints will likely hinder rescue operations for people stranded at the Mediterranean Sea. (Info Migrants 05/06/2023, Al Jazeera 03/06/2023, Info Migrants 16/06/2023)

current crises
in Italy

These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

ITA002 - Mixed Migration

Last updated 23/08/2023

Drivers

Displacement

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.6 Medium

Access constraints

2.0

REG007 - Central Mediterranean Route

Last updated 25/08/2023

Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

2.9 Medium

Access constraints

2.0

Analysis products
on Italy

Humanitarian Response Plan 2022

07 April 2017

Humanitarian Response Plan 2022

DOCUMENT / PDF / 901 KB

ACAPS and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have produced a new set of Central and West Mediterranean migration scenarios, outlining possible developments in migration via Libya, Italy, Spain and other transit countries over the next six months.

Mixed migration
The Balkans: Asylum Seekers, Migrants, and Refugees in Transit

18 March 2016

The Balkans: Asylum Seekers, Migrants, and Refugees in Transit

DOCUMENT / PDF / 777 KB

As of 16 November, close to 820,000 people have arrived in Europe by sea in 2015. 85% of the arrivals are from the world’s top ten refugee-producing countries. As the sea route to Italy via North Africa is longer and more risky, and as the number of Syrians has increased, more people are travelling through Greece and then through the Balkans to reach northern and western Europe.

Mixed migration
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