ROME – Berlin formally requested the Italian government to “grant urgent aid” to the rescued migrants on board a humanitarian ship in the Mediterranean. Humanity 1, which is registered under a German flag, has been sailing in circles for days while awaiting permission to disembark the migrants at a safe port. A letter from the German Ambassador concerning the situation was reported Wednesday night on the RAI3 programme Il Cavallo e la torre.

 The message came eight days after Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi ordered humanitarian vessels to stay clear of Italian waters. Similarly, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had placed the responsibility for these migrant rescue ships with their countries of registration, saying “if an NGO ship bears a German flag, there are two options: either Germany recognizes it and takes charge of it or it becomes a pirate vessel.”

 In response to the implacable Italian position, the German government wrote: “The federal government has responded in writing to the verbal memo of the Italian government setting out its interpretation of the law. For the federal government, civilian organizations involved in the rescue of migrants provide an important contribution to the saving of human lives in the Mediterranean. Saving people whose lives are in danger is the most important thing. According to the information provided by SOS Humanity, on board the Humanity 1, which bears a German flag, there are currently 104 unaccompanied minors. Many of them require medical attention. We have asked the Italian government to grant aid urgently.”

 Humanity 1 remains in waters near Catania, with some 179 migrants on board. Also awaiting a safe port to disembark rescued migrants are the Norwegian registered ships Ocean Viking and Geo Barents, which currently hold 806 people between them. 

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