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Amnesty bemoans ‘dark day for UK’s moral standing’ over Med refugees Amnesty bemoans ‘dark day for UK’s moral standing’ over Med refugees
(34 minutes later)
Thousands more refugees are at risk of perishing in the Mediterranean, human rights groups have warned, as Italy cancels its emergency naval rescue operation.Thousands more refugees are at risk of perishing in the Mediterranean, human rights groups have warned, as Italy cancels its emergency naval rescue operation.
Rome’s Mare Nostrum mission, which saved 150,000 people fleeing poverty and warzones in Africa in the past 12 months, will be wound down, its budget slashed by two thirds in the two-month phase-out period.Rome’s Mare Nostrum mission, which saved 150,000 people fleeing poverty and warzones in Africa in the past 12 months, will be wound down, its budget slashed by two thirds in the two-month phase-out period.
Instead, Europe’s border protection agency, Frontex, launches its Triton operation to help monitor and patrol the waters off the Italian coastline, with resources of just €3m a month – a third of what the Italian navy has been spending in the past year.Instead, Europe’s border protection agency, Frontex, launches its Triton operation to help monitor and patrol the waters off the Italian coastline, with resources of just €3m a month – a third of what the Italian navy has been spending in the past year.
“No matter how it is dressed up, Triton is not a search and rescue operation,” said Nicolas Beger of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office. “As the world faces the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War, the EU must urgently and collectively... plug the imminent gap in these life-saving operations.”“No matter how it is dressed up, Triton is not a search and rescue operation,” said Nicolas Beger of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office. “As the world faces the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War, the EU must urgently and collectively... plug the imminent gap in these life-saving operations.”
Britain’s refusal to contribute to the scaled-down replacement operation was also decried. “This is a very dark day for the moral standing of the UK,” said Amnesty UK Director Kate Allen. “The Italian navy’s... operation has saved thousands of lives and other European countries should now be stepping up to share that responsibility with them, not shirk it.”Britain’s refusal to contribute to the scaled-down replacement operation was also decried. “This is a very dark day for the moral standing of the UK,” said Amnesty UK Director Kate Allen. “The Italian navy’s... operation has saved thousands of lives and other European countries should now be stepping up to share that responsibility with them, not shirk it.”
The waters between Africa and Europe have already become a graveyard for tens of thousands of dispossessed people who drown in rickety boats, having handed their life savings over to ruthless criminal gangs which organise the crossings. In the last 25 years, more than 20,000 adults and children have lost their lives trying to reach Europe by sea, according to the International Organisation for Migration and Fortress Europe, a website that records migrant deaths. In the past year alone, more 3,000 have perished trying to reach the Italian coast.The waters between Africa and Europe have already become a graveyard for tens of thousands of dispossessed people who drown in rickety boats, having handed their life savings over to ruthless criminal gangs which organise the crossings. In the last 25 years, more than 20,000 adults and children have lost their lives trying to reach Europe by sea, according to the International Organisation for Migration and Fortress Europe, a website that records migrant deaths. In the past year alone, more 3,000 have perished trying to reach the Italian coast.
The former Italian Prime Minister, Enrico Letta, set up Mare Nostrum after two migrant disasters in October 2013. In the worst accident a boat capsized off the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, killing more than 360 people. But yesterday the coalition’s right-wing interior minister, Angelino Alfano, said: “Mare Nostrum ends. Italy has done its duty.” He added that the government had spent over €9m a month on the operation since it began last October. Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, set up Mare Nostrum after two migrant disasters (EPA) The former Italian Prime Minister, Enrico Letta, set up Mare Nostrum after two migrant disasters in October 2013. In the worst accident a boat capsized off the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, killing more than 360 people. But yesterday the coalition’s right-wing interior minister, Angelino Alfano, said: “Mare Nostrum ends. Italy has done its duty.” He added that the government had spent over €9m a month on the operation since it began last October.
From November Italy is cutting monthly resources from €9.5m to €3m, and the ring-fenced naval operation will be reduced from five large ships to one large vessel and three patrol vessels. Mr Alfano said it was now time for Europe as a whole to take responsibility.From November Italy is cutting monthly resources from €9.5m to €3m, and the ring-fenced naval operation will be reduced from five large ships to one large vessel and three patrol vessels. Mr Alfano said it was now time for Europe as a whole to take responsibility.
Significantly, he added that the “law of the sea” would still apply and that Italian naval vessels would, like all ships, continue to respond to sea-goers in distress. But some observers said Mr Alfano’s insistence in declaring an end, at least in name, to Mare Nostrum was, in large part, a nod to his right-wing supporters.Significantly, he added that the “law of the sea” would still apply and that Italian naval vessels would, like all ships, continue to respond to sea-goers in distress. But some observers said Mr Alfano’s insistence in declaring an end, at least in name, to Mare Nostrum was, in large part, a nod to his right-wing supporters.
However, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman, William Spindler, told reporters in Geneva that the body did not think Triton was sufficient. “A proper search and rescue effort needs to be maintained, otherwise people will continue to die,” he said.However, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman, William Spindler, told reporters in Geneva that the body did not think Triton was sufficient. “A proper search and rescue effort needs to be maintained, otherwise people will continue to die,” he said.
Mare Nostrum deployed five ships, including two frigates with helicopter landing pads, an amphibious ship with a crew of 180 and two patrol vessels, as well as drones.Mare Nostrum deployed five ships, including two frigates with helicopter landing pads, an amphibious ship with a crew of 180 and two patrol vessels, as well as drones.
Triton will operate with seven smaller patrol boats, one helicopter and four fixed-wing aircraft. Crucially, the boundaries of Triton’s operating area are limited to 30 nautical miles from the Italian coast, whereas Mare Nostrum ventured much further out to sea to save lives. All but seven of the 28 EU member states have contributed human resources or technical equipment to Triton. But the UK Government has said it will not support future search and rescue operations beyond supplying a technical expert. It says that such operations simply encourage more migrants. The head of the Italian navy, Admiral Filippo Maria Foffi, this week added his voice to criticism of Britain’s stance, dismissing claims that the current Mare Nostrum rescue mission had created a “pull factor”. “If someone is talking about pull factors, he simply doesn’t know what he is speaking about,” he said.Triton will operate with seven smaller patrol boats, one helicopter and four fixed-wing aircraft. Crucially, the boundaries of Triton’s operating area are limited to 30 nautical miles from the Italian coast, whereas Mare Nostrum ventured much further out to sea to save lives. All but seven of the 28 EU member states have contributed human resources or technical equipment to Triton. But the UK Government has said it will not support future search and rescue operations beyond supplying a technical expert. It says that such operations simply encourage more migrants. The head of the Italian navy, Admiral Filippo Maria Foffi, this week added his voice to criticism of Britain’s stance, dismissing claims that the current Mare Nostrum rescue mission had created a “pull factor”. “If someone is talking about pull factors, he simply doesn’t know what he is speaking about,” he said.