Italy
shuts port to 629 rescued migrants
Italy's
new interior minister has refused permission for a rescue vessel to
drop off more than 600 migrants picked up off Libya's coast.
The
MV Aquarius, a search and rescue ship run in partnership between "SOS
Mediterranee" and Doctors without borders (MSF).The MV Aquarius,
a search and rescue ship run in partnership between "SOS
Mediterranee" and Doctors without borders (MSF). Photo: AFP
11
June, 2018
Matteo
Salvini, the leader of the far-right League party, said Malta should
take in the ship, the Aquarius, but his request was rejected.
The
League had promised voters during recent elections that it would take
a tough stance on immigration.
Italy
is the main entry for migrants crossing from North Africa to Europe.
Mr
Salvini said on Sunday Italy was saying "no to human
trafficking, no to the business of illegal immigration".
He
also complained, on Facebook that: "Malta takes in nobody.
France pushes people back at the border, Spain defends its frontier
with weapons."
The
migrant rescue charity SOS Méditerranée, which runs the Aquarius,
said 629 migrants had been picked up in six different rescue
operations off Libya's coast on Sunday.
The
charity's spokesperson, Mathilde Auvillain, said the ship had
received orders to head north and was now awaiting "definitive
instructions".
"Our
objective is the disembarkation in a port of safety of the 629 people
now on board the Aquarius - some we rescued yesterday night in
difficult conditions," she was quoted by Reuters as saying.
BREAKING: After an extremely busy night on the Central #Mediterranean, the #Aquarius now has 629 people on board - including 123 unaccompanied minors, 11 children & 7 pregnant women - from six different operations. The #Aquarius is now heading North to a port of safety.
Mr
Salvini's comments came after another dispute with Malta on Friday.
He had accused the Maltese government of not doing its fair share
when the Seefuchs rescue ship was stranded in volatile seas with 126
migrants on board.
Malta
reportedly refused to send assistance to the vessel and it was
allowed to dock in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo on Saturday, the NGO
Sea Watch reported.
"It
is not possible for Malta to say 'no' to every request for help. The
Good Lord put Malta closer than Sicily to Africa," Mr Salvini
remarked.
The
Maltese government rejected Sea Watch's criticism and said it adhered
to all its obligations regarding immigration.
Last
week, Mr Salvini said Rome should increase its deportations of
migrants.
The
hardline leader said the Italian government would open more
deportation centres, make agreements with origin countries.
The
Italian government also wants a relocation of asylum-seekers EU-wide
- a scheme already rejected by some member states.
Mr
Salvini says he is considering action against organisations rescuing
migrants at sea. He has previously accused them of being in cahoots
with people-smugglers.
The
government's critics say its plan to repatriate migrants is
unworkable and risks fomenting racism and politicising a humanitarian
issue.
A
controversial deal between Italy's former government and authorities
in Libya has led to a drop in overall arrivals since last summer.
However,
Italian officials say 13,500 migrants have been registered so far
this year.
-
BBC
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