1,100 migrants rescued off Italy

Rome, Aug 29 (IANS) Around 1,100 migrants were saved as part of 11 rescue operations coordinated by authorities in the channel of Sicily, the Italian Coast Guard said on Monday.

The migrants were picked up on Sunday from eight rafts, a boat and two punts by three units of the Italian Navy and the vessel Astral, which is operated by the Open Arms NGO, EFE news reported.

According to data from the Italian Interior Ministry, an estimated 100,328 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean from the North African coast until August 9.

After reaching Italian shores, many of the migrants began their journey to reach countries in northern Europe.