Italy: Richard Gere receives honor for his work in favor of migrants
US actor Richard Gere on Monday was honored by the Italian city of Florence for his humanitarian work in favor of migrants and human rights.
proactiva open arms
Spanish rescue mission saves 44 migrants, told 'not to offer assistance'
The Spanish non-profit organization Proactiva Open Arms has rescued 44 people from a wooden boat in the Mediterranean. The chief of mission of the rescue boat says Malta told him not to help the group, which included a young child and a baby.
Spain rescues another 200 migrants in the Mediterranean
The Spanish maritime rescue service on Monday rescued almost 200 migrants who tried to get to Spain from North Africa. This brings the total number of people rescued in the Western Mediterranean to nearly 400 in less than one week.
More than 150 migrants scale fence to Spain's Ceuta enclave in Morocco
More than 150 migrants crossed the border fence separating the Spanish overseas enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Friday. It was the biggest attempt to cross the heavily guarded barrier in a year.
Spain rescues 208 migrants in less than 24 hours
The Spanish maritime rescue service has rescued more than 200 migrants from Mediterranean waters in the past 24 hours. The rescue comes at the same time as Spain is getting ready to welcome 15 migrants it picked up from Sicily using a naval warship.
'We were terrified, but we were coming from hell'
18-year-old Feven, a migrant from Eritrea, was rescued at sea by the Spanish migrant aid organization Proactiva Open Arms. After she disembarked on the island of Lampedusa, she recounted the horrors of her journey to the UNHCR.
Italy says EU will distribute rescued Open Arms migrants currently on Lampedusa and Sicily
The Italian Interior Ministry said the European Commission is planning to distribute the 80 migrants rescued by NGO rescue vessel Open Arms. The migrants, currently on the islands of Sicily and Lampedusa, will be received by EU countries that have expressed willingness to take them in. Meanwhile, an Italian polician said the situation on Lampedusa is becoming increasingly unsustainable.
Open Arms migrants in limbo again after landing in Italy
The over 80 migrants who disembarked on Lampedusa are once again in limbo. EU states have not sorted out yet how they will be relocated. One week ago, six countries had declared their general willingness to take the migrants in.
Italian prosecutors issue order for 'Open Arms' migrants to disembark
Italy has allowed over 80 migrants who have been stranded on a Spanish migrant rescue vessel off the coast of Lampedusa to disembark. Prosecutors said the decision was due to the "difficult" situation on board.
Salvini versus sea rescue NGOs: An overview
Embattled Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini is not a fan of private migrant rescue missions in the Mediterranean, to say the least. Since he took office in mid-2018, there have been about a dozen prominent stand-offs between Salvini and rescue ships.
Migrant rescue group criticizes Spain's offer to dock in Mallorca
The migrant rescue charity 'Open Arms' has rejected a Spanish government offer for its vessel to dock at a Balearic Island port. It was the second offer the group rejected, citing an "urgent" and "inhumane" situation.
Migrants jump off Open Arms ship, try to reach Lampedusa swimming
On Sunday, four migrants on board the Open Arms rescue vessel jumped offboard in a desperate bid to reach the Italian island of Lampedusa. Crew members of the Spanish rescue organization Proactiva Open Arms swam after them and brought them back to the ship. The Open Arms ship has been waiting for over two weeks for permission to disembark the over 100 migrants which it rescued from rubber dinghies.