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Rescued migrants must recuperate before being taken to Spain, says MSF Aquarius refugees to endure further voyage to Spain onboard Italian vessels
(35 minutes later)
The hundreds of “exhausted and stressed” migrants aboard the Aquarius rescue ship in the Mediterranean need to be removed from the vessel immediately and allowed to recuperate in the nearest port before travelling to Spain, a leading medical charity has said. Hundreds of the migrants and refugees aboard the Aquarius rescue ship are being transferred to Italian coastguard and naval vessels to begin their journey to Spain, despite pleas for them to be allowed to recuperate in the nearest port.
The 629 people, including children and pregnant women, were saved by the French NGO SOS Méditerranée on Saturday, but the Aquarius was caught in a dramatic standoff over the weekend in which Italy and Malta refused to allow it to dock. On Tuesday afternoon, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said the crew of the Aquarius had been instructed by the maritime rescue coordination centre in Rome to transfer 400 of the 629 people aboard to the two vessels, which will then sail for Valencia.
On Monday, Spain’s new prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said the ship would be welcome in the port of Valencia, saying the country had a duty to help avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. The migrants and refugees, including children and pregnant women, were saved by the French NGO SOS Méditerranée from waters off the coast of Libya on Saturday, but the Aquarius was caught in a dramatic standoff over the weekend in which both Italy and Malta refused to allow it to dock.
Médecins Sans Frontières applauded Sánchez’s offer but said the priority had to be the immediate disembarkation of the rescued migrants. “MSF welcomes the important gesture of humanity from Spain to disembark in Valencia,” it said in a statement on Tuesday. Spain’s new prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, stepped in on Monday and said the ship would be welcome in the port of Valencia, insisting the country had a duty to help avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.
“However, this would mean already exhausted people rescued at sea would have to endure four more days exposed to the elements on the deck, in an overcrowded boat already well over maximum capacity and in deteriorating weather conditions. The better option would be to disembark the rescued people in the nearest port, after which they can be transferred to Spain or other safe countries for further care and legal processing.” MSF applauded Sánchez’s offer but said the priority had to be the immediate disembarkation of the rescued migrants.
“MSF welcomes the important gesture of humanity from Spain to disembark in Valencia,” it said in a statement on Tuesday. “However, this would mean already exhausted people rescued at sea would have to endure four more days exposed to the elements on the deck, in an overcrowded boat already well over maximum capacity and in deteriorating weather conditions. The better option would be to disembark the rescued people in the nearest port, after which they can be transferred to Spain or other safe countries for further care and legal processing.”
The charity said it was particularly worried about several people who had swallowed seawater, had been treated for hypothermia or who had suffered severe chemical burns.The charity said it was particularly worried about several people who had swallowed seawater, had been treated for hypothermia or who had suffered severe chemical burns.
“Disembarkation cannot be delayed further,” said David Beversluis, MSF’s doctor on board Aquarius. “The priority must be to immediately disembark all 629 people – including 123 unaccompanied minors, 11 children and 6 pregnant women – at the nearest port of safety. The medical situation on board remains stable for now but people are exhausted and stressed.”“Disembarkation cannot be delayed further,” said David Beversluis, MSF’s doctor on board Aquarius. “The priority must be to immediately disembark all 629 people – including 123 unaccompanied minors, 11 children and 6 pregnant women – at the nearest port of safety. The medical situation on board remains stable for now but people are exhausted and stressed.”
On Tuesday afternoon, MSF said the Aquarius had been instructed by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rome to transfer 400 of the refugees and migrants to Italian navy ships, which would then sail for Valencia. Sophie Beau, the head of SOS Méditerranée, said the Aquarius still had to travel 1,500km (930 miles) to Spain, adding: “It is starting to get tense onboard.”
SOS Méditerranée said the Aquarius’s crew were still awaiting the arrival of two Italian ships.
“We still don’t know when we are leaving, and we still have 1,500km [930 miles] to cross with the rescued people, some of whom are in a critical condition,” said Sophie Beau, the charity’s head. “It is starting to get tense onboard.”
In the meantime, said Beau, the Aquarius was unable to continue its usual rescue work off the coast of Libya. “At this time the Aquarius, the biggest rescue boat in the Mediterranean, is going far from its rescue zone,” she said.In the meantime, said Beau, the Aquarius was unable to continue its usual rescue work off the coast of Libya. “At this time the Aquarius, the biggest rescue boat in the Mediterranean, is going far from its rescue zone,” she said.
The Valencia regional government said it was expecting the migrants to arrive in port “in three or four days”. Monica Oltra, the region’s vice-president, said the Red Cross was preparing to provide shelter and medical assistance to people on arrival, and that other Spanish regions and cities had offered to provide longer-term support. The Valencia regional government said it was expecting the migrants to arrive in port “in three or four days”. Mónica Oltra, the region’s vice-president, said the Red Cross was preparing to provide shelter and medical assistance to people on arrival, and that other Spanish regions and cities had offered to provide longer-term support.
Italy’s refusal to accept the Aquarius was the first major anti-migrant move since the far-right interior minister, Matteo Salvini, took office this month.Italy’s refusal to accept the Aquarius was the first major anti-migrant move since the far-right interior minister, Matteo Salvini, took office this month.
Authorities on the French island of Corsica also offered to host the migrants, the morning after SOS Méditerranée suggested the Aquarius would not be able to reach Spain safely due to deteriorating weather conditions.Authorities on the French island of Corsica also offered to host the migrants, the morning after SOS Méditerranée suggested the Aquarius would not be able to reach Spain safely due to deteriorating weather conditions.
The new Spanish foreign minister, Josep Borrell, has said the country is looking to push EU leaders to address the bloc’s migration policies later this month. The new Spanish foreign minister, Josep Borrell, said the country was looking to push EU leaders to address the bloc’s migration policies later this month.
“Spain has made a gesture that aims to trigger a European dynamic to stop looking away, allowing one [EU member] to cope with the problem while the rest of us pass the buck,” Borrell told Cadena Ser radio on Monday.“Spain has made a gesture that aims to trigger a European dynamic to stop looking away, allowing one [EU member] to cope with the problem while the rest of us pass the buck,” Borrell told Cadena Ser radio on Monday.
MigrationMigration
RefugeesRefugees
ItalyItaly
MaltaMalta
SpainSpain
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