Spain to let in migrant ship blocked by Italy and Malta
SPAIN’S new prime minister has ordered authorities to allow a rescue ship carrying 629 migrants to dock in the eastern port of Valenica after the boat was refused access by Italy and Malta.
Pedro Sanchez’s office said: “It is our duty to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe and offer a secure port for these people.”
Amid the political dispute, the Aquarius, a rescue ship belonging to the SOS Mediterraneee charity, has been stuck in the Mediterranean Sea with its passengers, including 123 unaccompanied minors and seven pregnant women.
Medical workers said food on board the ship is going to run out by late last night.
The government statement said Spain wanted to comply with its international responsibilities on humanitarian crises.
The move came after Italy and Malta refused to let a rescue ship with 629 people aboard dock in their ports, leaving the migrants at sea.
The diplomatic stand-off had escalated under Italy’s new antiimmigrant government.
Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini, head of the League party, said: “Enough! Saving lives is a duty, but transforming Italy into an enormous refugee camp isn’t.”
He tweeted: #Chiudiamoiporti. “We’re closing the ports.”
Maltese premier Joseph Muscat also refused to take in the Aquarius ship of the humanitarian group SOS Mediterranee.
He accused Italy, which co-ordinated the rescue, of violating international norms governing sea rescues.
Italy’s position, Mr Muscat said, risks “creating a dangerous situation for all those involved”.
The ship said it had been ordered on Sunday night by Italy’s coastguard to remain 35 miles off Italy and 27 miles from Malta.
The migrants had been rescued during a series of operations on Saturday by Italian maritime ships, cargo vessels and the Aquarius itself. All passengers were offloaded to the Aquarius to be taken to land.
Doctors Without Borders, which has staff aboard the Aquarius, tweeted a video of some of the women aboard praying yesterday morning, and said they were unaware of the diplomatic drama being waged on land over their fate. The group said it “urgently requests a swift resolution and a designated port of safety”.