“A solution is urgently needed for all remaining survivors on all four ships at sea,” the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR said Monday. States in the region must provide a safe place for migrants to disembark. In principle, due to the explosive situation and the many drowned people, a meaningful division of tasks between all affected states is urgently needed. At least 1,337 people have disappeared along the migration route through the central Mediterranean this year, according to the IOM.
The Italian authorities recently landed about 360 boat migrants from the rescue vessel “Geo Barents”. Aid agency Doctors Without Borders, which operates the ship, said 214 people must remain on board. The German “Humanity 1” is still in Catania with 35 migrants on board. According to the UN, about 300 people are waiting for two other ships. The new right-wing government of Rome only wants to let people in need ashore. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said the rest should return to international waters along with rescue workers. Italy sees the flag states as responsible and so does Germany.
(SDA)