A migrant boat off the Libyan coast was in distress with 150 people on board, activists said on Monday. They were eventually intercepted by a merchant ship and returned to Libya. The aid organization Alarm Phone has deemed the return as "commercial refoulement."
The 49 rescued migrants and refugees say that they are hoping to find "rights and work" in Europe. "We will manage to survive because we know how to adapt to anything," a young Algerian told us.
After weeks of waiting, 49 North African refugees on two rescue vessels have received permission to disembark. Germany has agreed to accept 60 refugees in total amidst ongoing political wrangling within the EU.
The German NGO Sea-Watch reported that migrants onboard its rescue vessel have started to accept food again, but their physical and mental health has taken a terrible toll. The migrants currently off the Maltese coast have been stranded at sea for 18 days.
UPDATE: After 17 days in the Mediterranean Sea and battered by winter storms, the two NGO rescue boats stranded close to Malta's shores with 49 migrants on board are still waiting for port access. One of the ships has received supplies and support. International voices to resolve the humanitarian crisis are getting louder.
Berlin-based Sea-Watch said conditions on the boats had become dangerous, with migrants suffering from severe seasickness and post-traumatic stress disorder. The vessels were denied access to ports in Malta and Italy.
A rescue boat with 311 migrants on board who were saved off the Libyan coast has arrived in Spain after repeatedly being denied entry by Italy and Malta. Libya, France and Tunisia also failed to respond to requests for permission to dock.
The operators of the migrant search and rescue vessel "Aquarius," which had to discontinue its operations in early December 2018 after losing its flag registration, are hoping to find another ship to continue their work in the Mediterranean.
Matteo Salvini, Italy's deputy Prime Minister, Home Office Minister and leader of the anti-immigrant party La Lega (Northern League) sent a strong message to Malta, France and the EU on Saturday.
44 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean by a merchant vessel are being taken to Malta after two days in limbo following Italy's refusal to accept them. They were expected to disembark on the island late Wednesday.
After spending days on the rescue ship Aquarius, a group of 58 migrants was transferred to a Maltese patrol boat and taken on the island. The charity-run ship is keeping out of port after losing its Panama registration.
The Doctors without Borders (MSF) ship Aquarius may soon set sail without its flag, which could prevent the ship from carrying out its rescue missions. The organization is making a plea to 'all governments' to solve the issue.