The Italian authorities say they rescued more than three thousand migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa on Saturday alone. <br /><br /> Improved weather conditions in the Sicilian Channel over the past few days has caused a surge in the number of people attempting to make the short but hazardous trip on overloaded boats. <br /><br /> Video supplied by the Italian Navy showed five incidents involving small boats such as fishing skiffs and inflatable dinghies being intercepted at sea. <br /><br /> Some 220 migrants were taken to Lampedusa, the small Italian island at the centre of this ongoing international phenomenon. <br /><br /> The authorities said the latest arrivals were almost all men from Sub-Saharan Africa. <br /><br /> For the short term at least they will be given food and shelter on the island.<br /><br /> European leaders have agreed to triple funding for naval searches in the Mediterranean but for the moment the vast majority of operations are still being carried out by the Italians.
