Rome - New Italian government policies to curb the influx of migrants have led to a sharp decrease in the number of migrants and refugees arriving by boat in Lampedusa, Italy. As a result, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is withdrawing its team from the island.

Between May and October, 2008, more than 21,000 migrants and refugees landed on the island after perilous sea journeys across the Mediterranean, according to MSF in Italy. During the same period this year, MSF teams saw fewer than 200 migrants. MSF is extremely concerned for the fate of the migrants stopped from landing in Italy.

Since the new government policies were implemented earlier this year, many boats carrying migrants have been reportedly intercepted at sea and forced back to Libya. The first official ‘forced return’ announced by the Italian government took place in May. Migrants are being denied the opportunity to land in Europe and receive much-needed humanitarian assistance. They are also exposed once again to the violence and abuse endured while trying to reach Italy.

“We often hear horrific stories from our patients about what they endure during the journey,” said Antonio Virgilio, MSF head of mission in Italy and Malta. “They have crossed the desert, been locked up in prisons where they have been given no food or water, they have been mistreated, beaten up, women have been raped. They go through hell before they finally manage to get on a boat to Italy or Malta. And now they are being sent back to relive this nightmare all over again. This is a huge threat to their health and even their lives.”

Lampedusa has been a regular port of disembarkation for migrants and refugees who cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe for years. Since 2002, MSF has provided medical care to those who land on the island. Migrants and refugees arrive in Lampedusa suffering from osteo-muscular complaints, burns resulting from exposure to sun and fuel, and dehydration as a result of the dangerous sea crossing. Many are traumatized by the journey. Increasingly, children and pregnant women, who are particularly at risk, are among those making the journey. In 2008, one in 10 women seen by our teams was pregnant.

In 2008 alone, MSF provided medical care to more than 1,400 migrants and refugees who arrived on the docks of Lampedusa in need of urgent assistance. Most people seen by MSF came from sub-Saharan Africa. One third came from East African countries, including Somalia and Eritrea. They endure the long, harsh journey to escape conflict, deprivation or widespread violation of human rights. During the journey, they are often subjected to mistreatment and violence, including rape. Since May, 2009, however, MSF has assisted fewer than 160 patients.

In response to the worryingly low number of migrants landing, MSF is withdrawing its teams from Lampedusa.

“We have reports that some boats are also being sent to Porto Empedocle, in Sicily,” explained Loris de Filippi, MSF operational coordinator. “We have tried to assess migrants’ conditions upon landing and provide assistance, but we have not been granted authorization by the local authorities.”

MSF continues to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable migrants and refugees facing increasingly restrictive policies in mainland Italy.