The Italian interior ministry has reported that this year migrant landings in the country have halved compared to 2018.
Migrant landings in Italy have halved in 2019 compared to the previous year, according to data as of December 24 released by the interior ministry.
A total of 11,439 migrants arrived in Italy this year, down by 50.72% from 2018, when 23,210 people reached Italy's coasts.
The trend this year further increases when it is compared to arrivals in 2017, when 118,914 migrants reached Italy's coasts, or 90.38% more than this year.
Tunisians first nationality
According to interior ministry data, updated to December 24, the majority of migrants who landed in Italy were Tunisian nationals (2,654). They were followed by Pakistanis (1,180) and Ivorian citizens (1,135).
Unaccompanied foreign minors were 1,618, about 1,000 less than in 2018 and 14,000 less compared to 2017, according to the data.
Support for migrants with humanitarian protection
The interior ministry has announced that it is continuing to financially support municipalities that are part of the network of the system of protection for those with international protection status and unaccompanied foreign minors (SIPROIMI), to continue to assist those who have been granted humanitarian protection after December 31, 2019 and until June 30, 2020.
Resources totaling 8.296.880 euros come from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (FAMI) which has approved a project to promote the autonomy and inclusion of beneficiaries of humanitarian protection. The project was presented by the central direction of civil services for immigration and asylum of the interior ministry.
Resources will be allocated to local authorities in particular to fund measures to find housing and work, to promote integration and to help with administrative issues. The project concerns some 1,400 people, 50% of whom are in a condition of vulnerability.