Migrants stuck on rescue ship to land after four-day wait

Photo credit: Il Messaggero

 TARANTO – The Italian government has authorised over 400 migrants to disembark from the Ocean Viking.

 The migrants were expected to disembark Wednesday from the ship run by SOS Mediterranée and Médecins Sans Frontières, after a wait of four days to confirm a safe port. Meanwhile, the Alan Kurdi ship, run by the German charity Sea Eye and with 77 people aboard, has received permission to disembark in Malta. However, La Valletta refused to accept the Open Arms, carrying over 200 migrants, Corriere della Sera said.

 Of a total of 403 people, there are 132 unaccompanied children onboard the Ocean Viking along with 12 pregnant women, La Stampa reports.

 Matteo Salvini, the former interior minister who risks being charged with kidnapping for refusing to allow over 100 migrants to disembark from the Gregoretti ship in July, has accused prime minister Giuseppe Conte and current interior minister Luciana Lamorgese of committing the same crime over the Ocean Viking.

 “It took them four days to find a safe port, now I’m going to take them to court, so we’ll see if the law is equal for everyone,” Il Fatto Quotidiano quoted him as saying.

 Meanwhile, Italy’s agreement with Libya on immigration will be automatically renewed for three years on Feb. 2, with no changes. Despite promises to make changes due to human rights concerns, the Interior Ministry says it has been unable to find an interlocutor in Libya at the current time, La Repubblica reports.

 Civil war in Libya has dramatically increased the numbers of people trying to cross the Mediterranean to safety, and boats are also leaving from Tunisia, Corriere della Sera said.

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