Minors between 15 and 18 years old constituted 41 percent of illegal Egyptian immigrants to Italy last year, an Egyptian official said Wednesday.
Lamia Mohsen, the National Council for Motherhood and Childhood secretary general, said 2281 illegal immigrants traveled to Italy from Egypt in 2010, according to data from the Italian government.
She discussed the problem during the signing of an agreement to develop a tourism school in Fayoum, a city with one of Egypt's highest rates of illegal immigration.
The number of children who attempt to emigrate from Egypt has increased recently due to a lack of jobs and awareness about the dangers of illegal immigration, Mohsen said. Residents of areas with the lowest human development indicators, particularly Sharqiya and Fayoum, tend to emigrate the most, she said.
She said the program's implementation reflects the strong relationship between Egypt and Italy and represents cooperation between Mediterranean countries.
The program also emphasizes the advantages of legal immigration and the importance of professional and language skills in finding jobs inside Egypt and abroad, she said.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
