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| Mauritania food aid for migrants | Mauritania food aid for migrants |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A boat has delivered food and water to a ship carrying migrants, anchored off the coast of Mauritania, officials say. | A boat has delivered food and water to a ship carrying migrants, anchored off the coast of Mauritania, officials say. |
| The 1,200kg of biscuits, bread and cheese was organised by the Red Crescent and Red Cross (ICRC). | The 1,200kg of biscuits, bread and cheese was organised by the Red Crescent and Red Cross (ICRC). |
| Mauritania is still refusing to let the ship dock, after it broke down in international waters and was towed close to shore by a Spanish boat. | Mauritania is still refusing to let the ship dock, after it broke down in international waters and was towed close to shore by a Spanish boat. |
| The migrants told the (ICRC) by radio they were in good health and came from Kashmir and African countries. | The migrants told the (ICRC) by radio they were in good health and came from Kashmir and African countries. |
| They did not say if they were from Pakistani- or Indian-administered Kashmir. | They did not say if they were from Pakistani- or Indian-administered Kashmir. |
| "We have not been able to board the ship and see for ourselves but they say they are fine," Ahmedou Ould Haye from the Mauritanian Red Crescent told the BBC. | "We have not been able to board the ship and see for ourselves but they say they are fine," Ahmedou Ould Haye from the Mauritanian Red Crescent told the BBC. |
| "They say there are no women or children on board," he said. | "They say there are no women or children on board," he said. |
| 'Danger' | 'Danger' |
| The Geneva-based International Organization for Migration (IOM) has urged foreign governments to assist those on board the ship. | |
| "You can't leave people in a situation of danger... those who have the means to help should do so. A decision needs to be taken," Armand Rousselot, IOM representative for West and Central Africa, told Reuters news agency. | "You can't leave people in a situation of danger... those who have the means to help should do so. A decision needs to be taken," Armand Rousselot, IOM representative for West and Central Africa, told Reuters news agency. |
| There are reports that the Mauritanian and Spanish governments are negotiating about what should be done with the ship and its passengers. | There are reports that the Mauritanian and Spanish governments are negotiating about what should be done with the ship and its passengers. |
| The Mauritanian foreign ministry has said the ship was carrying some 200 Pakistani nationals but some reports suggest there could be up to 500 people migrants on board. | The Mauritanian foreign ministry has said the ship was carrying some 200 Pakistani nationals but some reports suggest there could be up to 500 people migrants on board. |
| It was reached by a Spanish vessel on Saturday and towed to within 12km (7.5 miles) of Nouadhibou port. | It was reached by a Spanish vessel on Saturday and towed to within 12km (7.5 miles) of Nouadhibou port. |
| Canary route | Canary route |
| "Mauritania has nothing to do with this boat breaking down, nor with taking charge of those on board," said a foreign ministry statement on Monday. | "Mauritania has nothing to do with this boat breaking down, nor with taking charge of those on board," said a foreign ministry statement on Monday. |
| Neighbouring Senegal has also said it could not handle the ship. | Neighbouring Senegal has also said it could not handle the ship. |
| Senegal and Mauritania are launching points for tens of thousands of African migrants looking to reach Europe, many via the Canary Islands. | Senegal and Mauritania are launching points for tens of thousands of African migrants looking to reach Europe, many via the Canary Islands. |
| About 30,000 Africans were caught trying to reach the Spanish island chain last year. | About 30,000 Africans were caught trying to reach the Spanish island chain last year. |
| EU patrols are now trying to stem the flow of immigrants. | EU patrols are now trying to stem the flow of immigrants. |