this is focus on europe. i'm lara babalola, a warm welcome to the show. the italian island of lampedusa has declared a state of emergency after thousands of refugees and migrants landed there within days. they arrived on flimsy vessels from africa after surviving the dangerous journey across the mediterranean sea. local authorities there were caught off guard by the swell in numbers and say they've reached a tipping point. the reception centre is overcrowded and the united nations has called the situation critical.