MILAN (Reuters) – Mediterranean nations on main migrant routes into Europe count on over 150,000 arrivals this yr as meals shortages attributable to the Ukraine battle threaten a brand new migration wave from Africa and the Center East.

“This yr the frontline member states are anticipated, as now we have mentioned between us, to obtain greater than 150,000 migrants,” Cyprus Inside Minister Nicos Nouris stated on Saturday after a gathering with fellow ministers of the so-called MED5 group in Venice.

Some 36,400 asylum seekers and migrants have already landed in Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Malta this yr, after 123,318 arrivals in 2021, in keeping with the United Nations refugee company. https://knowledge.unhcr.org/en/conditions/mediterranean

General numbers, nevertheless, stay considerably beneath these of 2015, when over 1 million migrants reached the 5 nations to flee poverty and battle throughout Africa and the Center East.

A scarcity of wheat and different grains may have an effect on 1.4 billion folks, United Nations disaster coordinator Amin Awad stated on Friday, including extra negotiations had been wanted to unblock the ports in Ukraine to keep away from famine and mass migration around the globe.

Russia and Ukraine account for practically a 3rd of world wheat provides, whereas Russia can also be a key fertilizer exporter and Ukraine a serious provider of corn and sunflower oil.

“If wheat stays blocked within the Black Sea ports, we should count on a better (migrant) stream,” Italian Inside Minister Luciana Lamorgese advised SkyTG24 on Friday. “We’re involved, as are all frontline nations.”