Italy will allow its coast guard ship ‘Ubaldo Diciotti,’ carrying 177 rescued migrants to dock in Catania, Sicily. This comes after a standoff with Malta over where the ship should disembark. However, there are reports that the interior minister Matteo Salvini will not allow the migrants to disembark until he is assured that they will go elsewhere.
‘Ubaldo Diciotti’ rescued 190 migrants last week from an overcrowded boat. 13 were evacuated to Italy be treatment, but the ship did not bring the rest to shore and stayed in international waters. After that Italy and Malta started a standoff about who should take them, as the boat had first passed through Malta’s search-and-rescue area.
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From its part, Malta insisted that the migrants refused its aid because they wanted to go to Italy, with Italy saying that Malta should be sanctioned.
Finally, Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli announced announced that the ship will dock in Catania, without saying when, urging Europe to ‘do its part,’ Reuters reported.
However, according to Mr. Salvini’s press officer, the minister will not allow the migrants to disembark until he is assured that they will go elsewhere. In fact, the ship docked in Catania, but the migrants will not disembark until the interior minister gives permission, the Italian Coast Guard told CNN.
In the meantime, charities and NGOs working with refugees and migrants are concerned about their situation.
