2007年VOA标准英语-African Migrants Overwhelm Italian Island's Ref

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
19 July 2007

A flood of illegal immigrants from Northern Africa is overwhelming Italian officials on the southern island of Lampedusa, off the coast of Sicily. A boatload of more than 200 migrants arrived early Thursday and officials say the holding center has reached the bursting point. For VOA, Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome.

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Some 220 illegal immigrants arrive in the southernmost Italian island of Lampedusa after being intercepted by Italian coast guards, 19 Jul 2007

The holding center on the island of Lampedusa is now packed with about 900 migrants, yet its capacity is only 190. A boatload with more than 200 illegal immigrants on board arrived early Thursday and authorities immediately proceeded with identification.

On Wednesday, at least five people, including a child, died when two fishing boats carrying migrants sank between Italy and Libya. Italian coastguard officials say 36 people were rescued in the incident and taken to Lampedusa.

Because of the overcrowding at the facility authorities have begun airlifting some of the migrants to other centers on the mainland.

To add to the difficulties in the holding center, an epidemic² of scabies broke out two weeks ago and 400 cases of infection have already been reported.

More rickety vessels³ and rubber dinghies are making the trip across from Libya and continue to be sighted by coastguard patrol boats. Officials say good weather conditions and calm seas appear to have increased the number of crossings by people seeking better economic opportunities in Europe.

Thousands of migrants try to reach Italy's coasts every year, brought in by smugglers who make lucrative⁴ runs on often fragile and overcrowded boats.

Morocco is one country that has been trying to find ways to stop immigrants from making the sometimes risky⁵ journey. Moroccan ambassador to Italy, Tajeddine Baddou, says unless Europe does more to favor development in Africa, these voyages of hope will continue.

"Europe has to help Africa to development, to create job opportunities in Africa," said Baddou. "Today everybody feels much better at home. Those who leave have no choice."

More than 50 African migrants were missing off the Canary Islands on Thursday when their crowded wooded boat capsized. The migrants were lost overboard in heavy seas as the Spanish coast guard tried to rescue them near the end of a dangerous trip from the coast of Mauritania.

In 2006 an estimated 30,000 immigrants were caught trying to reach the Canary Islands.

1 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

2 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

3 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

5 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。