A woman protests Italian populist's government crackdown on asylum-seekers, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. Several governors have pledged to challenge the Italian populist’s government crackdown on asylum-seekers. Provisions of a law, approved first in the form of a government decree and later by Parliament in December, take effect Feb. 1. The new law tightens criteria for migrants receiving humanitarian protection, granting that status only to victims of labor exploitation, human trafficking, domestic violence, natural calamities and a few other limited situations, such as needing medical care. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
January 08, 2019 - 6:29 AM
BERLIN - The Latest on Europe's response to mass migration (all times local):
3:15 p.m.
Greek authorities are investigating the death of a 24-year-old man from Cameroon who was taken to a hospital from a sprawling refugee camp on the island of Lesbos.
Migration Minister Dimitris Vitsas said the cause of the man's death hasn't been established yet. He died after being transported from the Moria camp before dawn Tuesday.
Vitsas said the man had been staying in a home build out of a shipping container at the camp where heaters were installed and blankets distributed.
Authorities on Lesbos are on alert after overnight temperatures hit freezing, prompting school closures in parts of the island. A cold snap also caused disruption across Greece.
Some 15,000 migrants and refugees remain on Greek islands, most living in overcrowded camps, and are banned from travelling to the mainland.
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1:05 p.m.
German humanitarian groups Sea-Watch and Sea-Eye are appealing to European Union countries to take in 49 migrants stuck on their ships since their rescue in the Mediterranean in December, warning their health is deteriorating.
The two groups told reporters Tuesday in Berlin they have had to ration drinking water and that some migrants had trouble eating due to illness.
Sea Watch member Erik Marquardt asked: "Do people need to die before a solution is found?"
Sea-Watch rescued 32 migrants from a smugglers' boat in the Mediterranean Dec. 22 within sight of Malta. Seventeen others were saved by Sea-Eye on Dec. 29 and they also are awaiting permission to disembark.
Malta won't allow disembarkation until deals are reached to distribute the 49 among fellow EU nations.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019