After being pressured to allow aid ships that have rescued hundreds to dock Immigrants in the Mediterranean, Italy allowed a ship of the German non-governmental organization SOS Humanity to approach the port of Catania.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced at a press conference that the ship Humanity 1 is heading to Catania.
Once Arodo arrives in this Sicilian port, doctors will board the ship to check the health of the 179 migrants it rescued in the Mediterranean.
“It will be able to remain in our territorial waters as long as necessary to examine all emergencies on it. We will accept all those who are, for example, minors or, according to what we learn from the media, are pregnant women or with small children, people who have a fever.”he assured.
Nevertheless “those who do not meet these criteria should be taken off the ship out of our territorial waters”he warned.
The same as Taiani was stated in a press conference by the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piandedozzi, who clarified that more than 100 unaccompanied minors are reportedly on board the Humanity 1.
“We will not neglect our humanitarian obligations … but we also want to insist on the duties of the states, under whose flags the ships are”said Piandedozzi.
Petra Krysock, who is a press officer for the German non-governmental organization and is on board the ship, said that the migrants are sleeping on deck and may soon face a storm after the summer of the last few days.
More than a quarter of the group of survivors are showing flu-like symptoms, she also said in emailed comments, according to Reuters.
The two Norwegian-flagged ships are carrying more than 800 people and are sailing off Sicily.
More than 1,000 migrants trying to reach Europe are currently on rescue ships, including 234 on the Ocean Viking of SOS Mediterranee, which operates in partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross, and 572 on the Geo Barents of Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Added to them are those on Humanity 1 and Rise Above of the Lifeline organization (94 rescued migrants).
A mutiny is reportedly threatened on the Rise Above, which could also get permission to approach the Italian coast, Tajani hinted, according to AFP.
Source: News Beast
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