July 30, 2014 - Taranto, Italy: The arrival in the port of the Italian Navy Zeffiro ship carrying 404 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea as part of the 'Mare Nostrum.' On board there are 241 men, 62 women, one of them pregnant, more than 101 minors, 52 of them unaccompanied and 4 infants. They are almost all Syrian refugees, there are also some Sudanese, some Palestinians of Gaza and Egyptians. Hundreds of would-be immigrants die in the dangerous crossing every year, while others are transferred to Italian ships and then brought into port, generally to the cities of Salerno or Taranto, or to Lampedusa Island. Italy is the most convenient place to travel by boat from Northern Africa or the Middle East, in search of asylum from war, poverty or political oppression. The Italian Navy reported on Aug. 4 it had rescued 93,000 migrants thus far this year, attempting to enter Italy by sea. The 'Mare Nostrum' operation, a naval deployment, begun in October 2013 when two shipwrecks claimed the lives of over 400 people. (Alessandro Digaetano/Polaris)