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Stricken migrant ship due to dock Migrant ship docks in Mauritania
(1 day later)
A stricken ship carrying hundreds of migrants, which has spent a week at sea off the coast of Mauritania, is expected to dock on Monday. Hundreds of Asian and African migrants have disembarked from their ship in the Mauritanian port of Nouadhibou, after being stranded at sea for a week.
The vessel was given clearance to dock after Spain, the migrants' intended destination, agreed to pay for the their medical treatment and travel. The stricken vessel was given clearance to dock after Spain, the migrants' intended destination, agreed to pay for their medical treatment and travel.
Doctors have now been despatched to the Marine 1, several miles offshore, amid concern for the migrants' well-being. Doctors were despatched to the Marine 1 while it was still at sea, amid concern for the migrants' well-being.
Mauritania has said medical facilities must be ready before docking can start. Some 40 of the about 400 migrants are in poor health, the Red Cross says.
The ship broke down in international waters last week and was towed close to shore by a Spanish boat.The ship broke down in international waters last week and was towed close to shore by a Spanish boat.
It has since been waiting for clearance to dock at the port city of Nouadhibou. Since then, it had since been waiting for clearance to dock, with Mauritania insisting that medical facilities had to be ready first.
Vulnerable Identity checks
Under the terms of the agreement, the sick and vulnerable will be treated in Mauritania, while Spain will arrange the repatriation of the rest of the migrants from Asia and Africa. Under the terms of the agreement, the sick and vulnerable were to be treated in Mauritania, while Spain would arrange the repatriation of the rest of the migrants from Asia and Africa.
Blankets and clothes are being delivered to those on board the ship. About 10% of them are not in good health Olivia Acosta, Spanish Red Cross class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6347397.stm">In pictures: Migrant boat A spokeswoman for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) told the BBC that those in the worst state of health had been taken off the boat for medical assistance early on Monday afternoon.
Olga Martinez, of the Spanish Red Cross, said: "A launch has departed with personnel from the Spanish Red Cross and the Red Crescent. Most are thought to be suffering from dehydration and fatigue.
"They have been at sea for a long time and from our telephone contacts we can say that there are people with diarrhoea onboard and many weak people." By about 6pm local time, the majority of the migrants had disembarked, a Mauritanian Red Cross official said. They were given health checks and food and drink in a makeshift Red Cross treatment centre.
Spanish consular officials in Nouadhibou said the vessel was expected to arrive early on Monday. "About 10% of them are not in good health, but there are no very serious cases," Olivia Acosta, of the Spanish Red Cross, told the BBC.
Warning After health screening, the migrants were passed to Spanish police officers for identity screening.
But Nouadhibou Governor Mohamed Yahya Ould Mohamed Vall warned that Monday would be the earliest opportunity for the ship to come ashore. If their identity can be established, they are expected to be returned to their country of origin. If not, they will be taken to Spanish territory, where their immigration status will be decided, diplomats told Reuters news agency.
He added that three planes had already arrived to transport the migrants back to their countries of origin. Consular officials from India, Pakistan and Guinea were also at the docks to meet the migrants.
The migrants were believed to be trying to reach Spain's Canary Islands in the Atlantic. EU patrols
Some of them are believed to come from Kashmir but it is not known whether they are from Pakistan or India-administered Kashmir. Nouadhibou Governor Mohamed Yahya Ould Mohamed Vall said that three planes had arrived to transport the migrants back to their countries of origin.
Previously, aid workers have delivered food and water to the migrants who are thought to have set sail from Guinea. The migrants are believed to have set sail from Guinea and to have been trying to reach Spain's Canary Islands in the Atlantic.
Some of them are thought to come from Kashmir, but it is not known whether they are from Pakistan- or India-administered Kashmir.
About 30,000 Africans were caught trying to reach the Canary Islands last year.About 30,000 Africans were caught trying to reach the Canary Islands last year.
EU patrols are now trying to stem the flow of immigrants.EU patrols are now trying to stem the flow of immigrants.