The Upper Egyptian province of Minya is the top “exporter” of minor illegal migrants to Europe, Egypt’s immigration minister said in statements on Monday.
“Italy alone is home to more than 4,000 Egyptian children who migrated there illegally,” Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs Minister, Nabila Makram, said during a visit to Minya. “Those represent a headache for the defense, foreign affairs, social solidarity, immigration and manpower ministries,” the minister added, also demanding penalties for the parents of the illegal migrants.
In late September, the EU ambassador to Egypt, James Moran, said 60 percent of illegal Egyptian migrants in Italy were minors.
Illegal migration from Egypt to Europe has been on the rise over the past few years, turning deadly on many occasions due to the poor conditions the migrants are subjected to when dealing with boat smugglers.
The International Organization for Migration said in October that more than 2,900 illegal migrants died in the Mediterranean on their way to Europe in 2015.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
