German-flagged charity vessel refuses to leave Italian port

A German NGO stated that the captain of the Humanity 1 who is legally responsible to ensure the safety of all passengers on board has declined the request to leave port with the 35 survivors.

Rome said earlier on Sunday (6 November) that minors and those in urgent need of medical attention, 144 out of the 179 passengers, were allowed to disembark from Humanity 1, which was permitted to dock in Catania.

Two other vessels, carrying almost 1,000 migrants each, had been waiting for permission from Italy's right-wing government to dock. They were at sea off Italy for over a week.

Matteo Piantedosi, the Interior Minister, said on Friday that Humanity 1 would be sent out of territorial water after all passengers allowed to have disembarked.

According to the German NGO, 35 migrants who were onboard were in poor health and had fled "inhumane conditions" in Libya.

Mirka Schaefer (a SOS Humanity advocacy officer), said in an email that "this deprives them both of their right to freedom as well as their right to go to shore in a safe place".

A second charity vessel which had requested Rome for a port safe enough for 572 migrants just docked in Catania.

The Italian government, as with Humanity 1, has given permission for the Geo Barents to dock to only disembark those in need of emergency assistance.

"Selective or partial disembark as proposed by the Italian authorities is not to be considered legal pursuant to maritime law conventions," stated international NGO Medicins sans Frontieres which manages the Geo Barents ship.

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