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Standoff in Italy as Salvini refuses to let in refugees after coastguard ship docks Standoff in Italian port as Salvini refuses to let refugees disembark
(about 11 hours later)
An Italian coastguard ship with 177 people on board has docked in the Sicilian seaport of Catania, but Italy's far-right interior minister Matteo Salvini has not given authorisation for the refugees and migrants to disembark. An Italian coastguard ship with 177 people on board remains docked in Catania, with Italy’s far-right interior minister, Matteo Salvini, refusing authorisation for the refugees and migrants to disembark.
The passengers, who have been stuck on the coastguard boat Ubaldo Diciotti for five days will not be allowed on land until “Europe steps in to help’’, Salvini said. The passengers, who have been stuck on the Ubaldo Diciotti for five days and arrived at the Sicilian port on Monday evening would not be allowed on land until “Europe steps in to help’’, Salvini said on Tuesday.
The Diciotti picked up 190 refugees and migrants last Wednesday from an overcrowded boat about 17 sea miles from the island of Lampedusa. Thirteen of them were evacuated for emergency medical treatment. The ship picked up 190 refugees and migrants last Wednesday from an overcrowded boat about 17 sea miles from the island of Lampedusa. Thirteen of them were evacuated for emergency medical treatment.
Since then, Rome has insisted that Malta should take the group because their boat first passed through its search-and-rescue area. But Malta has refused, claiming that the migrants wanted to reach Italy. Questioned by the Italian authorities, the 13 evacuated migrants claimed that the Maltese had escorted them outside its search-and-rescue zone. Rome insisted that Malta should take the group because their boat first passed through its search-and-rescue area, but Malta refused, claiming the people wanted to reach Italy.
On Monday afternoon, after three days of negotiations, Italy’s transport minister Danilo Toninelli announced finally on Twitter that “The Diciotti ship will dock in Catania.” Questioned by the Italian authorities, the 13 evacuated migrants claimed the Maltese had escorted them outside its search-and-rescue zone.
But shortly afterwards, sources close to Salvini said he had not given the authorisation to disembark, suggesting the boat was granted permission to dock but the migrants will have to remain on board. On Monday afternoon, after three days of negotiations, Italy’s transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, announced on Twitter: “The Diciotti ship will dock in Catania.”
Sources close to Salvini said the minister was treating it as a “technical stop”, not as a potential disembarkation.
Salvini said on Italian TV: “The ship may land in Italy, as long as the 177 migrants are distributed, in a spirit of solidarity by the EU.”Salvini said on Italian TV: “The ship may land in Italy, as long as the 177 migrants are distributed, in a spirit of solidarity by the EU.”
The Diciotti finally docked in Catania on Monday at 11.53pm but the passengers were forced to remain inside the vessel. Most of the people on board are from Eritrea or Somalia. Fulvio Vassallo, an expert on asylum law from the University of Palermo, said Italy was facing the possibility of violating article 5 of the European convention on human rights.
“They need assistance as soon a possible,” Giovanna Di Benedetto, a spokeswoman for Save The Children, told the Guardian. “Some of them have suffered several months, if not over a one year, of imprisonment in Libya's detention camps.” “Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person,” Vassallo told the Guardian. “This is an illegal detention and asylum seekers detained for more than 48 hours should be immediately release and should be given the opportunity to apply for refugee status.”
It is the third time the Diciotti has been prevented from landing migrants in an Italian port.
Last July, in Trapani, the disembarkation of 67 migrants from the Diciotti was eventually authorised following the intervention of the Italian president, Sergio Mattarella.
Most of the people on board the Diciotti in Catania are from Eritrea or Somalia.
“They need assistance as soon a possible,” Giovanna Di Benedetto, a spokeswoman for Save the Children, told the Guardian. “Some of them have suffered several months, if not over a year, of imprisonment in Libya’s detention camps.”
Brussels said it was in talks with EU states but did not specify which capitals were involved.Brussels said it was in talks with EU states but did not specify which capitals were involved.
ItalyItaly
Matteo SalviniMatteo Salvini
EuropeEurope
RefugeesRefugees
Migration
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