Children, pregnant women and
the most vulnerable migrants landed on Lampedusa Thursday from
Italian rescue ship Mare Jonio leaving 34 migrants aboard on
wind-tossed seas - while the crew appealed to shore saying they
were out of water.
"We ask that the rescued migrants and the crew may land as
soon as possible," said the Italian NGO that runs the ship,
Mediterranea Saving Humans.
"The sanitary staff aboard the Mare Jonio has sent to the
competent authorities a fresh urgent appeal to enter the port
because of the risk of a hygienic-health emergency," it went on.
"Creating alarm is the lack of water destined for hygienic
use and other necessities on board, a lack that has gone on for
40 hours now and of which the authorities were informed right
from the early hours of yesterday morning."
Outgoing Interior Minister and anti-migrant League leader
Matteo Salvini's ban from entering Italian waters is still in
force.
Accordingly, the Mare Jonio remains in international waters
not far from Lampedusa.
The entry ban was also signed by Transport Minister Danilo
Toninelli and Defence Minister Elisabetta Trenta.
But Trenta stressed the "sacrosanct right of children,
pregnant women, the sick and persons in difficulty to be rescued
and be able to disembark".
Salvini has barred NGO rescue ships from landing in Italian
ports.
But his hardline stance is expected to be softened by the new
5-Star-Democratic Party government.
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