CAIRO: In an attempt to combat illegal immigration, the government announced plans to establish schools for vocational education in the governorate of Fayyoum.
The schools are a joint project between the Ministry of State for Family and Population Affairs, the Ministry of Manpower and Immigration and the Italian Cooperation in Egypt, the ministry of population said in a statement.
Known for being a prime source for illegal immigrants, Fayyoum was chosen for the project.
Young people would learn handicraft skills and produce their own goods which they can sell to earn a living, the ministry statement said. Consequently, it adds, the students wouldn’t resort to immigration as means of finding job opportunities.
This is one of the first projects, newly appointed population minister Moshira Khattab launches in less than a month into the cabinet.
The Italian Cooperation in Egypt, a development organization, has been specifically chosen as a project partner because Italy is the most popular destination for illegal immigrants from Fayoum. There is even a village in Fayoum named Milano, after the Italian city, as young men over there are known for heading to Italy all the time.
Last Sunday a boat carrying illegal immigrants capsized off Libya s Mediterranean coast. Officials said 23 people were saved and 21 bodies were found. Over 200 are feared dead as resuce missions continue.
Six of the saved were Egyptian, but according to reports 17 of those save remain in critical condition.
In November 2007, 22 Egyptians had died off the coast of Italy. Eleven died when a ship, which left the coast of Libya with 160 Egyptians, on board capsized on its way to Europe.
In January 2007 Egypt had signed a protocol with Italy to regulate immigrant labor. But according to local press reports on November of the same year, since its activation in March 2,400 Egyptians were deported from Italy back to Egypt.
This is the beginning of the smuggling season in the Mediterranean, UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond said in a statement.
This tragic incident illustrates, once again, the dangers faced by people caught in mixed irregular movements of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean and elsewhere which every year cost thousands of lives. – Additional reporting by AFP
