By Luis Felipe Fernandez and Jordi Rubio VALENCIA, Spain, June 17 (Reuters) - A migrant rescue boat turned away by Italy and Malta arrived at the Spanish port of Valencia on Sunday, ending a grueling voyage which has made it a symbol of Europe's failure to agree on immigration. Spain swooped to help 629 mainly sub-Saharan Africans on board the Aquarius last week after … [Read more...]
Italy Bans Two Dutch Migrant Rescue Vessels
by Philip Pullella (Reuters) A heated exchange erupted after interior minister Matteo Salvini told more foreign NGOs operating migrant rescue ships in the Mediterranean they could not dock in Italian ports. Salvini, who is also leader of the right-wing League and deputy prime minister, posted remarks on Facebook and Twitter in an escalating row with NGOs as one ship, … [Read more...]
Spain To Offer Maritime Migrants Free Healthcare
By Rodrigo de Miguel (Reuters) - Spain’s new socialist government promised on Friday it would restore free healthcare for undocumented migrants, a right removed by the former administration as part of cost-cutting. The move is the latest migrant-friendly initiative by the government of Pedro Sanchez, who offered on Monday to take in a rescue ship that was drifting in the … [Read more...]
Migrant Rescue Ship Blocked From Italian Port: Pope Francis Steps In To Patch Relations With France
by Steve Scherer (Reuters) - Italy and France tried to patch up a row over immigration on Thursday as Pope Francis urged politicians everywhere to work together on helping refugees and respect their dignity. Italy summoned France’s envoy on Wednesday and demanded an apology from President Emmanuel Macron, who had said Rome’s move to block a migrant rescue ship from its ports … [Read more...]
ICS: Shipping Industry ‘Deeply Concerned’ About New Italian Policy on Migrants Rescued at Sea
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) says the shipping industry is 'deeply concerned' about the apparent new policy of the Italian government to close its ports to humanitarian migrant rescue vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea. The strong statement from the ICS comes after Italy (and Malta) refused port access to the M/V Aquarius with more than 600 migrants … [Read more...]