Exodus from Africa: Migrants arriving in Europe by boat this year will top 100,000 by mid-August, officials warn as another 2,500 dock in Italy

Nearly 91,000 men, women and children have reached Italy from across the Mediterranean since start of the year

Another 2,500 have arrived in Italian ports in the last 24 hours after being rescued by the navy and coastguards




Migrants flowing into Europe by boat from Africa this year are expected to exceed 100,000 by mid-August, officials have said.

Nearly 91,000 people have reached Italy by sea since the start of the year, already close to the record-high of 92,000 arrivals in 2011.

It came as another 2,500 arrived in Italy in the last 24 hours after being rescued by the navy and coastguard while crossing the Mediterranean.

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Italy's navy and coast guard have been patrolling the Mediterranean Sea since last October as part of an EU-funded search-and-rescue mission called 'Mare Nostrum' (Our Sea).

But o verwhelmed by the numbers, the country is increasingly waiving European rules to fingerprint migrants, allowing them to move on.



Fleeing their own countries:P Many of the migrants are Egyptians, Pakistanis, Eritreans, Syrians and Somalis, authorities say

Searching for a new life: A mother takes her children off the boat. Overwhelmed, Italy is waiving European rules to fingerprint migrants, allowing them to move on Italy's navy and coast guard have been patrolling the Mediterranean Sea since last October as part of an EU-funded mission called 'Mare Nostrum' (Our Sea)

Many are then heading to Britain via Calais, where the unprecedented influx is causing a tense summer as clashes break out among asylum-seekers in overcrowded camps .

Sudanese and Eritreans have battled in the heat in France's port city, with frustrations rising as the Africans jockey for space while trying to sneak into Britain - the dream destination some 30 kilometers (20 miles) away.

British police have been on site trying to make sure they don't cross over.

Their French counterparts fired tear gas on Tuesday to break up the latest battles that left dozens injured, one seriously, the Calais prefecture said.

Migrants fleeing poverty and war in Africa and the Middle East arrive in Calais with hopes of crossing the channel on a ferry or on trucks laden with cargo.

Medical help: Many migrants head to Calais, where clashes have broken out among asylum-seekers, in the hope of making it into Britain Welfare: Members of the Italian Red Cross check over and treat the migrants after their treacherous journey across the Mediterranean

Their numbers in the city at the edge of the English Channel have swelled to up to 1,300, overwhelming the city, aid agencies and police.

'There are migrants who arrive each day and each day some who succeed in getting to Britain,' said Deputy Mayor Philippe Mignonet, in charge of security, earlier this week.



He refused to say how many migrants outsmart the scanners, CO2 detectors and other technology used on trucks and planted through the Channel Tunnel.

'Calais has been taken hostage,' Mignonet said, blaming in part a Franco-British cooperation accord that he says puts the brunt of the burden on Calais.

Britain is seen by many migrants as Europe's Shangri-La, with a more humane treatment of migrants than continental neighbors like France, where there are only 22,000 living units for some 60,000 asylum seekers.

Clashes among migrants are a new phenomenon.