Of those who arrived last year , the largest group , more than 11,300 , were Syrians fleeing the conflict in their homeland . The migrants were picked up from more than 200 overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean . About 18,000 people have arrived by sea in Italy so far this year , the government says . Last year , nearly 43,000 migrants reached Italy , more than a third of them from Africa .
The migrants were picked up from more than 200 overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean . About 18,000 people have arrived by sea in Italy so far this year , the government says . Last year , nearly 43,000 migrants reached Italy , more than a third of them from Africa .