Migrant departures thwarted in Tunisia, suspects arrested
Tunisian authorities in the course of two days blocked nine departures of at least 200 migrants who wanted to irregularly reach Italian coasts.
mediterranean
Italy: Migrant coronavirus cases pose no risk to public, officials say
After 28 migrants tested positive for the coronavirus, the Italian interior ministry has asserted that there is no health risk for the rest of the country because they have been quarantined. The COVID-19 positive migrants were among 211 people rescued by NGO Sea-Watch last week.
More than 110 migrants rescued by Ocean Viking
The NGO ship Ocean Viking rescued 118 migrants in the Mediterranean in two separate operations on Thursday. Meanwhile, rescue ship Alan Kurdi has been released by Italian authorities but is not yet ready to set off on a new mission.
36 migrants rescued off Lesbos on Sunday
36 migrants from Iran and Afghanistan, traveling from Turkey, were rescued off the coast of Lesbos on Sunday. The migrants were taken to Petra port on the island where they were tested for the novel coronavirus, and then taken into quarantine.
EU needs migrant rescue mechanism in the Mediterranean, S&D politicians say
Members of the S&D group in the EU parliament have called on the European Commision to create a permanent mechanism for migrant search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea.
Rescue ship Mare Ionio back at sea for eighth mission
The NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans launched its eighth migrant rescue mission at sea on Tuesday. Their Mare Ionio boat left the Trapani port and is heading for the central Mediterranean.
Malta sets up center in Libya to fight irregular migration
The government of Malta has signed an agreement with Libya to combat irregular immigration across the Mediterranean. The Maltese-funded plans involve the setting up of coordination centers in the Libyan capital Tripoli and the Maltese capital Valletta.
Tunisia prevents migrant departures to Italy
Tunisia prevented several departures of migrants to Italy at the start of the week, officials say. But Tunisian migrants continue to arrive on Italian shores: 71 migrants made it to the Italian island of Lampedusa on Tuesday.
150 migrants rescued in Mediterranean by Alan Kurdi
NGO ship Alan Kurdi has rescued 150 migrants from two boats off the coast of Libya. It is the only private rescue ship operating in the region right now. The coronavirus emergency could make it difficult for the ship to find a port for disembarkation.
Coronavirus: Mediterranea stops migrant sea rescues
The organisation Mediterranea Saving Humans has announced the suspension of its migrant rescue operations at sea due to the coronavirus emergency.
Refugees on board Aita Mari disembark in Sicily
Rescued migrants onboard Spanish NGO rescue vessel Aita Mari could finally go ashore at the southern Italian port city of Messina on Friday. The vessel had picked up 158 migrants several days earlier. In a separate development, the Maltese coast guard on Thursday and Friday picked up some 160 people from three boats; there were allegations that officials had waited for 18 hours before taking any action.
Spanish police arrest 26 for human smuggling
Spanish police announced on February 3 they had arrested 26 suspected smugglers. The group is thought to have brought more than 900 migrants from Algeria to Spain during 2019, earning at least €1.5 million.