Italy's New Government Closes It's Ports To Flotillas Of Ships Bringing Migrants

[G.L.R.]

Hundreds of migrants in limbo as Italy closes ports to NGOs

November 5, 2022


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Italy's new right-wing-led government on Friday adopted a measure formalising the closure of its ports to rescue ships run by humanitarian groups.

However, more than 1,000 rescued migrants are now stranded aboard four ships run by European charity organisations in the Mediterranean Sea. Some migrants have been at sea for more than two weeks amid deteriorating conditions onboard. Humanity 1 and Rise Above, run by separate German humanitarian groups, sought permission to dock at Italian ports... carrying 179 migrants, has received permission to disembark minors and people needing medical care. But the Rise Above's request for a port for its 93 passengers has so far gone unanswered. And two other ships, the Geo Barents with 572 migrants and the Ocean Viking with 234, have also repeatedly asked permission to access a port to disembark the rescued migrants...

The measure was approved after Germany and France each called on Rome to grant a safe port to the migrants... Italy's new government is insisting that countries whose flag the charity-run ships fly must take on the migrants. Speaking at a news conference late Friday, Piantedosi described such vessels as  "islands" that are under the jurisdiction of the flag countries. Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini, known for his anti-migrant stance, cheered the new directive in a Facebook video. "We stop being hostage to these foreign and private NGOs that organise the routes, the traffic, the transport and the migratory policies," Salvini said. The posture adopted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's new government marks a return to the anti-NGO position adopted by Salvini, now a deputy premier...

Hundreds of migrants in limbo as Italy closes ports to NGOs | Euronews
https://www.euronews.com/2022/11/05/hundreds-of-migrants-in-limbo-as-italy-closes-ports-to-ngos