- During the crisis of the pandemic, the Italian Government has banned foreign vessels in rescue operations from docking in the country. That is why the German rescue boat, which has 150 migrants, cannot reach the port and from there a clear warning has been made this Friday: They're running out of food.
The Government argues that during the coronavirus crisis they cannot ensure that Italian ports are safe from a health point of view and that they have also adopted equal treatment with Italian citizens in confinement as a criterion.
The fact is that the boat Alan Kurdi of the German NGO Sea-Eye has 150 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean and who are waiting to be able to land in the Mediterranean. As indicated, they have asked for food, medicines and fuel to the Italian rescue directorate: “They’ve immediately answered us no,” they added.
There has been an increase in tension on the vessel, as it is not prepared to accommodate 150 people for an extended period of time. “We want to stress that we will need food in the next 48 hours.”
There are resources for industry, not for migrants.
Like Italy, Libya and Malta, they are concerned about the closure of their ports on the rescue boat. “In Libya they say they don’t have a face mask for everyone.” The president of Sea-Eye was very critical: “It is not acceptable for billionaire rescues to be channelled to support European industry while at the same time saying that there are no resources to protect migrants.”
Italy tells Germany that it is she who has to take care of the boat and its departure to port.
Background
Far-right League leader Matteo Salvini, as Italian Interior Minister, also closed his ports between June 2018 and August 2019. In fact, at that time, the boats that rescued migrants from the boat were allowed to be fined.