More than 200 migrants onboard Norwegian-flagged rescue ship Geo Barents were finally allowed ashore in Catania. The 212 migrants disembarked after the Italian government permitted only selective disembarkation of migrants from that vessel run by French Charity Doctors Without Borders on the weekend. On the same day, RiseAbove, a rescue ship of German charity Mission Lifeline, was allowed to enter the port of Reggio Calabria and disembark 89 people it had picked up in the Mediterranean.
Thirty-five migrants, who were held up on a rescue ship have been also allowed ashore in Sicily, ending a stand-off between the German charity that runs the vessel and Italy’s new right-wing government. Italian Prime Minister two-weeks-old administration is cracking down on charity vessels, urging them to take rescued people to other countries. The government says Italy cannot alone receive arrivals from North Africa.
