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. the eu has promised to support italy in coping with illegal migration. still, the european union's refugee policy is coming under scrutiny. italy's right-wing government is calling on brussels to block migrants from departing north africa and crossing the mediterranean sea to europe. italy's prime minister says she intends to take immediate extraordinary measures to deal with the surge in arrivals. the greek island of lesbos is another hotspot for refugees and migrants - there too, camps are overcrowded and conditions are difficult. emmanuel lo

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. the eu has promised to support italy in coping with illegal migration. still, the european union's refugee policy is coming under scrutiny. italy's right-wing government is calling on brussels to block migrants from departing north africa and crossing the mediterranean sea to europe. italy's prime minister says she intends to take immediate extraordinary measures to deal with the surge in arrivals. the greek island of lesbos is another hotspot for refugees and migrants - there too, camps are overcrowded and conditions are difficult. emmanuel lo

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.