MARE NOSTRUM OPERATION – RESCUE MIGRANTS

epa04388939 Crew members in protective suits gives out instructions to a large number of illegal migrants – wearing face masks – after they were rescued by the crew of the ship Euro Mediterranean Sea South, 7 September 2014. The migrants are of sub-Sahara origin and rescued as part of the Mare Nostrum operation that Italy launched after some 400 migrants died in two separate boat disasters in October 2013. Italy is struggling to cope this year with a huge increase in the already big flow of migrants to attempt the hazardous crossing from North Africa. EPA/GIUSEPPE LAMI