IT was a sad story when a man recounted how he had to throw his two children overboard after they died of starvation in a migrant boat on their way to Italy.

The man and 74 other migrants were rescued on Saturday after setting sail from Libya a week ago. They were picked up by the Italian coastguard a day after the government declared a state of emergency over illegal immigration.

“The night we left Libya, the youngest one ,  died in my arms and we were forced to throw him in the sea,” the 30-year-old Nigerian was quoted by Reuters as saying in Italian newspapers.
A day later, his three-year-old daughter also died, he said.

“She wanted water and something to eat. She suffered a lot, resisted a bit longer, but didn’t make it in the end,” he said. Thousands of illegal African migrants arrive in Italy in flimsy boats each summer. A rise in crime attributed to the migrants has made them a hot political issue.

Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi’s government declared a national emergency on Friday but the opposition and other critics accuse it of exaggerating the situation.

“Those two children had the right to live,” La Repubblica columnist, Adriano Prosperi, wrote. “Instead, they died in the middle of the sea, off the coast of a country that has just discovered it is in a state of emergency. A country that feels threatened by them.”

Both opposition and ruling coalition lawmakers seized on the tragedy to support arguments on how to face the problem. “The death of the children ,  fills us with infinite pain and makes us understand what the real emergency is,” Italian leftist lawmaker, Marco Minniti, said.

But conservative lawmaker, Maurizio Gasparri, said it showed the need for tighter controls to prevent such tragedies. “Real racism is being lax on mass arrivals and the death of many, including children,” said Gasparri. “The government is taking responsibility for putting a brake on the uncontrollable and unmanageable influx of migrants.”

$$ken$$:

It is very terrible, i came to Europe through Tripoli after crossing the Sahara desert 4 3days, we boarded a zodiac and made a 16hrs trip through the Mediterranean sea after paying $1300 it was really terrible i saw people die due to exhaustion,zodiac capsizing.

But to God be the glory i have my stay now.

Men the trip is not worth risking

God Save 9geria

$$ken$$:

@lucabrasi

Broda na waoooo i can still remember that during our trip we even got lost at the Sahara desert and we sent 1more wk trying to find our route that was the most dangerous part of the journey i lost 2 of my close friends that made the journey with me.Even at Tripoli we where eating 2wice a week.

When you are crossing the Mediterranean sea pray, my boda, pray that no Ship or vessel sail close to your zodiac unless brother na DISASTER.

I can still remember a zodiac that went undersea taking with it 30 people this still gives me nightmare. infact

men got to go

$$ken$$:

@SeanT21

SORRY DUDE I AM NOT AN ILEGAL IMMIGRANT I GAT MY STAY IN 2006 OK

@Ijiji1

SORRY I A AM A REGISTERED AGRIC ECONOMIST WITH MY OWN CONSULTANCY COY

I was just trying to point out the difficulties in immigrating illegally especially tru LAND my guy this trips tru the dersert and what so ever is not worth the RISK period

$$ken$$:

@SeanT21
opps correction noted but why SEAN

$$ken$$:

but why should a father go tru this treacherous journey with his kids

SeanT21:

struggle for a better life. No Parent want their kids to grow up in poverty.

Ijiji1:

My dearest seanT21 are you saying you would risk the lives of[b] our [/b] beloved kids for fear of growing up in poverty ?

SeanT21:

Yes!! I want them to Live a Good Life.

we are having kids now, hmm

$$ken$$:

@SeanT21

Sean plz don't even think of that i don't advise any body to embark on such journey

have u ever been in a desert? or sail 16hrs

Ijiji1:

That's right we having kids how does 7 sound to you.

$$ken$$:

@benincitys

Ko yor owie edo

na tru road u paz 2