The island of Lampedusa, overwhelmed by the migratory wave

The small Italian island of Lampedusa was hard-pressed on Thursday to cope with the arrival of some 7,000 migrants in boats from North Africa, the equivalent of the entire local population.

The local shelter, with capacity for fewer than 400 people, was overwhelmed by men, women and children forced to sleep outside on makeshift plastic beds, many wrapped in survival blankets.

There were tensions on Wednesday when the Italian Red Cross, which runs the facilities, distributed food, forcing the police to intervene.

Some young people then headed to the historic center of the town of Lampedusa, where an AFP photographer saw some eating ice cream.

Many said they were hungry, but few had money and some restaurants turned them away.. Other establishments offered them free food, or residents and tourists paid for it.

Located about 145 km off the coast of Tunisia, Lampedusa is one of the stopping points for migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

Good weather favored arrivals in recent days. On Tuesday alone, 5,000 people arrived in Italy according to data from the Ministry of the Interior. Most were picked up from their fragile boats at sea by the coast guard, who took them to the port of Lampedusa.

But many don't go that far.. More than 2,000 people have died this year crossing between North Africa and Italy and Malta, according to the UN migration agency.

The last known victim was a five-month-old baby, who reportedly fell into the water on Wednesday when he was part of a group being brought to shore.

Critical situation

For years, the Lampedusa reception center had difficulties coping with arrivals. Humanitarian organizations indicated a lack of water, food and medical care.

The Italian Red Cross took over in June, promising to offer a more “dignified” welcome, but admitted this week that it was having difficulties with the increase in arrivals.

The organization reported that more than 7,000 people were at the site on Wednesday morning, a figure that raises “management problems.”. Some 5,000 people must be transferred before the end of the day on Thursday to Sicily, where there are larger facilities.

“The situation is certainly complex and we are trying to progressively return to normality,” said Francesca Basile, head of migration for the Italian Red Cross, on Thursday.. “Despite the critical situation, we continue trying to distribute beds to prevent people from sleeping outdoors,” he explained.. “We gave everyone food and distributed dinners last night, and today everyone will also receive what they need,” Basile said.

Italy's far-right government recently allocated €45 million ($48 million) to Lampedusa to help the island better manage the migration situation.

But head of government Giorgia Meloni, elected a year ago after promising to end mass migration, is asking the European Union for help.

Almost 124,000 migrants have arrived on Italian shores so far this year, 65,500 more than the same period last year.

However, the numbers still do not exceed those of 2016, when more than 181,000 people, including many Syrians fleeing war, arrived in Europe illegally.