Charity ship says migrants' safety at risk; minors allowed to disembark

[rooster59]

Charity ship says migrants' safety at risk; minors allowed to disembark

By Guglielmo Mangiapane and Joan Faus

 

Spanish migrant rescue ship Open Arms lies anchored close to the Italian shore in Lampedusa, Italy August 17, 2019. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

 

LAMPEDUSA/BARCELONA (Reuters) - A charity that operates a rescue ship carrying more than a hundred migrants off the coast of Italy said on Saturday that it could not guarantee their security after the boat had spent more than two weeks waiting for a port to disembark in.

 

The migrants picked up off the coast of Libya, most of whom are African, are waiting to disembark on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.

 

Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has ordered his officials not to let them do so, although on Saturday he made a partial concession, saying he would allow any children to leave the boat. He added that he had only agreed to this at the insistence of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

 

The Barcelona-based NGO Open Arms said that 27 minors who had been authorized to leave the ship disembarked onto Italian coast guard boats. That left 107 migrants on the ship.

 

Open Arms said the 16 days waiting for a port to disembark in had taken their toll on the migrants, with frequent fights breaking about among them and conditions on board deteriorating.

 

"After ... six medical evacuations and having told authorities about our situation without receiving an answer, we are in a situation of need and we cannot guarantee the security of the 134 people onboard," Open Arms said.

 

"It is terrible, the things that are happening are not only physical but psychological. The conditions in which they were staying in Libya and now in the ship, it is just terrible, with 130 people and two toilets," Open Arms' director and founder Oscar Camps told Reuters on Friday.

 

France, Germany, Romania, Portugal, Spain and Luxembourg have said they will help relocate the migrants, but the reaction from Salvini's interior ministry has been sceptical.

 

Salvini issued a statement on Saturday reiterating that Open Arms could have taken the migrants to Spain and that it was to blame for their plight. But he added that he was now willing to allow "presumed minors" off the boat.

 

ELECTION BID

 

Salvini, leader of the ruling League party, has built his popularity on a vigorous campaign against illegal immigration.

 

On Aug. 8, in an apparent attempt to capitalise on his surging voter support, he announced his ruling coalition with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement was no longer workable and called for elections that could crown him as prime minister.

 

However, his move has not gone to plan.

 

Conte, who is not a member of either ruling party, has accused him of disloyalty and of using immigration for political gain, while parliament has so far refused to discuss a motion of no-confidence in the government put forward by the League.

 

"Permission to disembark for these people is the sole responsibility of Prime Minister Conte," Salvini said, insisting that "the great majority of Italians" shared his own hard-line stance in closing Italy's ports to charity ships.

 

5-Star said Salvini no longer had the right to act as interior minister and called on him to resign.

 

Camps blamed politicians for the standoff.

 

"This isn't a game, it is a provocation, I don't know what you would call it, but we are waiting for a solution. We want an end to this because it is a sanitary emergency. These people who have been left outside, need help," he said.

 

The NGO's director said on a video from the boat released on Saturday that there are constant fights on board and the tension is unsustainable.

 

Citizens of Eritrea, Somalia, Nigeria and Cameroon are among those on board, a spokeswoman for Open Arms said.

 

The Open Arms boat was allowed into Italian waters on Thursday after an administrative court in Rome overruled a ban on its entering that Salvini had previously imposed.

 

(Additional reporting ad writing by Gavin Jones; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-18

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[DannyCarlton]

They could have sailed to Barcelona in a couple of days. Why spend 16 days anchored off an Italian Island?

 

It's clear that the Spanish charity ship is using it's passengers to score political points. Who's the bad guy now?

[TopDeadSenter]

40 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

Who's the bad guy now?

 

"16 days waiting for a port to disembark in had taken their toll on the migrants, with frequent fights breaking about among them and conditions on board deteriorating."

 

seriously?? People go on arctic expeditions for months and are stuck in close quarters - or up on the international space station for much longer without resorting to barbaric behavior. These migrants are fed and watered and essentially lounging around on a big ship in the Med, people pay big money to do this. Can they not even act normal for a few weeks? They are not making their supporters task an easy one.

 

 

[baansgr]

49 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

They could have sailed to Barcelona in a couple of days. Why spend 16 days anchored off an Italian Island?

 

It's clear that the Spanish charity ship is using it's passengers to score political points. Who's the bad guy now?

Could quite easily dropped them back on Libya as they were just off the Libyan coast. Why these tree hugging do gooders put these Vulnerable People through so much pain and suffering beggars believe

[DannyCarlton]

14 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

These migrants are fed and watered and essentially lounging around on a big ship in the Med, people pay big money to do this.

I've done it, which is why I know the sailing time from Lybia to Barcelona. From personal experience, I think that they could have made them more comfortable. Cocktails by the pool works wonders on a long voyage.

 

 

[zorrow424]

One of those so called rescue ships is Norwegian owned, sail to mainland Italy disembark them,onto sealed train then off up to Norway  See how long the Norwegian ship operates after that

[DannyCarlton]

2 minutes ago, zorrow424 said:

One of those so called rescue ships is Norwegian owned, sail to mainland Italy disembark them,onto sealed train then off up to Norway  See how long the Norwegian ship operates after that

I'm surprised that they didn't sail all the way to Norway. Best seafarers in the world, Norwegians.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

It is instructive to observe how far down the ladder of human misery some folk need to descend in order to find someone they feel they can stamp their superior boot on.

[Tug]

Some pretty sad specimens on this thread 

[zorrow424]

4 minutes ago, Tug said:

Some pretty sad specimens on this thread 

Ill say,when savages rape ,murder and plunder at will,none will ever work,all wanting their share of welfare cake,well its there..up a coconut tree wherever they came from

[bert bloggs]

I agree totally they should be allowed to disembark if they are under stress ,back at the port they came from .

[bert bloggs]

20 minutes ago, Tug said:

Some pretty sad specimens on this thread 

yes all the bleeding heart left wing luvies .

[Chomper Higgot]

15 minutes ago, zorrow424 said:

Ill say,when savages rape ,murder and plunder at will,none will ever work,all wanting their share of welfare cake,well its there..up a coconut tree wherever they came from

Because you have evidence that the people on this ship are savages, rapists, murders, are in search of plunder, are work shy or want welfare?

 

Or you are simply parading your ignorant racism?!

[bert bloggs]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Because you have evidence that the people on this ship are savages, rapists, murders, are in search of plunder, are work shy or want welfare?

 

Or you are simply parading your ignorant racism?!

Well if they are nice decent people ,why are they fighting amongst themselves already? soon be fighting the local population .

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, bert bloggs said:

Well if they are nice decent people ,why are they fighting amongst themselves already? soon be fighting the local population .

Any evidence to back zorrow424’s assertions, he needs your help because he himself has none.

[Orton Rd]

35 minutes ago, Tug said:

Some pretty sad specimens on this thread 

These illegals would have not been at risk if they had stayed at home, or do you buy their usual 'asylum' lies?

[bert bloggs]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Any evidence to back zorrow424’s assertions, he needs your help because he himself has none.

Sorry ime CONFUSED????

[zorrow424]

24 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Because you have evidence that the people on this ship are savages, rapists, murders, are in search of plunder, are work shy or want welfare?

 

Or you are simply parading your ignorant racism?!

Are they not already receiving welfare? Why are they fighting among themselves whilst still onboard the rescue ship?

   Nothing remotely racist or ignorant. Cast your beady around the Spanish Costa's,hundreds of thousands ,no work,crime ridden filth all lounging around ready for a quick spot of crime ,yes all there,as for Italy,beyond description

spanish crime.htm       all you have to do is type into Google African crime in Spain,help yourself to seeking the facts,it is not hard ,hundreds of entries on the subject    yes hundreds   

[Orton Rd]

You cannot walk across some bridges in Rome due to all the Africans trying to sell their crap laid out on the pavements.

[Chomper Higgot]

16 minutes ago, zorrow424 said:

Are they not already receiving welfare? Why are they fighting among themselves whilst still onboard the rescue ship?

   Nothing remotely racist or ignorant. Cast your beady around the Spanish Costa's,hundreds of thousands ,no work,crime ridden filth all lounging around ready for a quick spot of crime ,yes all there,as for Italy,beyond description

spanish crime.htm       all you have to do is type into Google African crime in Spain,help yourself to seeking the facts,it is not hard ,hundreds of entries on the subject    yes hundreds    1021 B · 2 downloads

I thought they were on the ship, but now you say they are in the Spanish Costas.

 

You seem as confused as Bert. 

[Chomper Higgot]

13 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

You cannot walk across some bridges in Rome due to all the Africans trying to sell their crap laid out on the pavements.

I've never had a problem walking across the Bridges at Rome. 

 

A bit of reading will inform you Romes Bridges have since classical times been a favourite place for people selling stuff. 

 

Oh but these latter day sellers are African. 

[zorrow424]

10 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I've never had a problem walking across the Bridges at Rome. 

 

A bit of reading will inform you Romes Bridges have since classical times been a favourite place for people selling stuff. 

 

Oh but these latter day sellers are African. 

yes but they did not shit and piss all over the place,stick a knife into you at a moments notice ,nope,they all want sending back and will be sent back to Africa,so say the majority of Italians,or do you consider yourself the majority?

[DannyCarlton]

4 minutes ago, zorrow424 said:

yes but they did not shit and piss all over the place,stick a knife into you at a moments notice

You have obviously never met a Hun or a Gaul.

[Kinnock]

People trafficking is becoming a tough business - perhaps they should try drugs?  

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, zorrow424 said:

yes but they did not shit and piss all over the place,stick a knife into you at a moments notice ,nope,they all want sending back and will be sent back to Africa,so say the majority of Italians,or do you consider yourself the majority?

Nobody has ever stuck a knife into me. 

 

Where is your evidence that the people on this ship have ever committed any of the acts you assert?

 

You don't have any evidence, your racist diatribe is not evidence. 

[zorrow424]

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Nobody has ever stuck a knife into me. 

 

Where is your evidence that the people on this ship have ever committed any of the acts you assert?

 

You don't have any evidence, your racist diatribe is not evidence. 

Reports of fighting amongst themselves,  throw them  just one knife will prove you wrong,instead of 150 on board the boat   probably only one will disembark

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, zorrow424 said:

Reports of fighting amongst themselves,  throw them  just one knife will prove you wrong,instead of 150 on board the boat   probably only one will disembark

So in the absence of any evidence to back up your racist claim that the people on this ship stuck a knife into me (or anybody else for that matter) you now want to provide them with a knife.

 

More overt racism posted on TVF and available for search engines to find. 

[DannyCarlton]

8 minutes ago, zorrow424 said:

Reports of fighting amongst themselves,  throw them  just one knife will prove you wrong,instead of 150 on board the boat   probably only one will disembark

You could sell tickets for that, "150 men enter, one man leaves"

 

 

[ivor bigun]

When i read and see what the luvies say about immigrants these days,i do realize that "there are none so blind as those who do not want to see" how true that saying is.

Sent from my SM-A720F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[zorrow424]

6 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

You could sell tickets for that, "150 men enter, one man leaves"

 

 

Was always a standing joke that one... lock them all in a room,one knife offered (and taken) rid of the problem in an hour or so