Italy plots ‘nuclear option’ to migrant crisis by giving EU visas to 200,000 incomers and sending them north as the country struggles with ‘human warehouse’

Italian government officials have threatened to issue temporary EU visas to thousands of migrants in an effort to deal with Italy’s escalating migrant and refugee crisis that would allow new arrivals to travel north.

In what has been described as a ‘nuclear option,’ Italian government officials have threatened to allow 200,000 migrants who enter the country to travel across Europe by using a Brussels directive, The Times reports.

Italy has previously called on its EU neighbours to help with the escalating humanitarian crisis but it has been disappointed by their lack of action.

 Migrants wait to disembark from the NGO (Non-government organization) Medecins Sans Frontier Vos Prudence ship after being rescued at sea, at Salerno’s harbor, Italy, on Friday

Due to its geographic location, Italy has been one of the first entry points  for people fleeing from the south to reach Europe.

More than 86,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean to Italy already this year.

Italy has been struggling to cope with a huge increase in people fleeing north Africa.