Italian Navy 's ` ` ' Nostrum '' mission to assist would - be migrants in peril rescued an estimated 100,000 migrants . Operation commenced in October 2014 , but the number of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean has not abated . Italy has borne brunt of task of picking up , sheltering and providing shelter and medical help to illegal migrants .
Italian Navy 's `` Mare Nostrum '' mission to rescue would-be migrants in peril rescued an estimated 100,000 people . Operation ended in October 2014 , but the tide of people trying to cross the Mediterranean has not abated . Italy has borne brunt of task of picking up , sheltering and providing food and medical help to illegal migrants .