MADRID: Tensionsrose on a rescue ship stranded off southern Italy yesterday, as 10 of themigrants aboard jumped into the sea and tried to swim ashore, according to theSpanish charity that operates the vessel. The ship Open Arms, at sea for 19days with almost 100 migrants onboard, has been waiting just off the port ofLampedusa, asking permission to bring the mostly African migrants ashore,despite an Italian ban on private rescue ships docking. Italy says it has bornetoo much responsibility for handling African migration to Europe. Its interiorminister says the charity-run ships have become "taxis" for peoplesmugglers.
"Nine peoplehave thrown themselves into the water trying desperately to reach the coast ofLampedusa. Our lifeguards and Italian coastguards are trying to rescue them.The situation is out of control," the Open Arms tweeted. It had earliertweeted that one other migrant had jumped in the water and posted a video ofthe migrant swimming toward the shore, his way blocked by an Italian CoastGuard boat.
"Day 19: anight of panic and a man in the water," the charity tweeted. "Thenight began with an urgent medical evacuation, and this morning a man hasjumped into the water trying to reach the land before his eyes ... Thesituation is desperate." The man overboard, a Syrian, was rescued byItalian authorities, who are caring for him, an Open Arms spokeswoman said.Dozens of migrants have been taken ashore since the ship entered Italian watersbecause they were said to be minors or ill. The remaining migrants still sleepjammed together on deck and share two toilets. Open Arms says some aresuicidal.
Interior MinisterMatteo Salvini suggested yesterday that the charity was exaggerating theproblems on board. Of eight migrants taken ashore on Monday night for urgentmedical attention, he said, only two had health problems. "I will never goback (on the ban)," he told Radio 24. The standoff has fuelled Salvini's campaignagainst migrant boats from Africa, and comes as he is trying to drag Italy intosnap elections. The ruling coalition, in danger of collapse later on, has splitover the issue.
Salvini'spolitical rival, Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli, who controls the CoastGuard but not port access, has offered to take the migrants on a Coast Guardvessel to Spain, which has offered them safe harbor. But Toninelli has set acondition-that Madrid de-register the Open Arms ship by removing its Spanishflag. Without a flag, it would be difficult for the ship to continue runningrescue missions; its insurance would be invalid and it could be intercepted atany time by a navy or coast guard force.
Separate talksare also under way between Italy and Spain to find a diplomatic solution, saida source in Rome familiar with the matter. She did not elaborate. "Theywant to take the flag away from us. The price is very high," Open Arms'director and founder, Oscar Camps, said in remarks published by El Mundonewspaper yesterday. Camps has ruled out the option of taking the migrants toSpain on the Open Arms ship, saying conditions on board were too miserable forthem to endure such a journey.
If a solution isnot found, Open Arms has not ruled out the option of defying Italy's ban andattempting to dock. Asked if the ship would try and enter the port withoutpermission, the Open Arms head of mission in Lampedusa, Riccardo Gatti, said onMonday, "Yes, it is an option". Spain's left-wing government offeredon Monday to allow the ship to dock at a Spanish port, and it and five otherEuropean Union nations have offered to take the migrants. The details of theoffers from France, Germany, Romania, Portugal, Spain and Luxembourg have yetto be finalized. - Reuters