Early Wednesday morning, Libya’s coast guard reportedly issued numerous threats against the rescue ship Sea-Eye 4 in the Mediterranean, urging it to leave "Libyan territory." However, Sea-Eye says that the vessel was in international waters at the time, where ships are allowed to move freely.
The Ocean Viking ship currently has close to 300 rescued migrants and refugees on board, following two new operations off Libya. Meanwhile, the Italian coast guard rescued roughly 80 people, and the Geo Barents is still looking for a port to disembark some 100 rescuees.
A doctor who carried out an inspection aboard the Open Arms in August 2019 has testified in court. Former Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini is currently facing kidnapping charges over refusing to let the rescue ship disembark in Italy.
German NGO vessel Sea-Eye 4 has picked up 106 migrants in the central Mediterranean in two days. After taking over 32 people a freighter had rescued earlier, the crew rescued 74 people from a rubber dinghy after receiving several distress calls. The Sea-Eye 4 is currently waiting off Malta for a safe port.
On Wednesday, the German foreign ministry announced it would be extending its participation in the EU monitoring mission Irini in the Mediterranean, but it would no longer commit to training the Libyan coast guard, due to concerns about their treatment of migrants. The trainings are part of the Irini mandate.
At least 70 migrants have been reported dead or missing off the Libyan coast in the past two weeks. Meanwhile, about 3,100 people have been intercepted at sea and returned to Libya.
After spending nine days at sea waiting for a safe harbor, the 111 passengers of the NGO vessel Geo Barents went ashore in Augusta on the Italian island of Sicily. It was the second disembarkation of rescued migrants the port town witnessed in three days.
In a video posted on TikTok, Tunisian influencer Chaïma Ben Mahmoud filmed her journey to the Italian island of Lampedusa, making the Mediterranean crossing seem glamourous when in fact it remains the deadliest migration route in the world. Three months earlier, another young Tunisian woman also caused a scandal by posting a photo taken on a small boat in the Mediterranean.
Portugal and Morocco signed an agreement on Wednesday, highlighting legal minutiae for Moroccans to come to live and work in the EU member state. The deal is part of ongoing efforts to fight illegal migration and human trafficking on both sides.
Pope Francis has called on countries to share responsibility on migration and refugee issues, and engage in dialogue to solve conflicts throughout the globe.
Slightly more than 59,000 migrants and refugees arrived in Italy so far this year by crossing the Mediterreanean, according to Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese. About 79,000 people are currently being hosted in the national reception system.
On Wednesday, November 10, the Republic of Cyprus announced that it was submitting a request to the European Commission in order to suspend applications for asylum for all those who arrive in the country without the correct papers.