07 Nov 2014 - Despite increasingly dangerous sea conditions, irregular migrants are continuing to across the Mediterranean, bringing the total number of arrivals in Italy this year to 154,075, according to figures newly released by the country’s Ministry of the Interior.  Although October’s number represented a 40 per cent drop from the number of arrivals during September, IOM officials in Rome noted some worrying trends in the flow: among them, the growing presence of women, many considered potential victims of trafficking.

“In 2014 there has been an alarming increase in the number of women arriving: 16,839 in 2014 compared to 7,658 in 2013,” said IOM Italy Chief of Mission Federico Soda. “In particular we have noticed a sharp increase in arrivals of young women from Nigeria."