Italy demands countries take responsibility for migrant rescue boats

The row over who should care for migrants rescued off the Italian coast by charity groups escalated on Friday (4 November), with Italy insisting on some responsibility, while Norway disagreed.

Three charities vessels carrying nearly 1,000 migrants have been waiting more than a week at sea off Italy, waiting to be allowed by the new rightist government in Rome. They claim that all their requests have been denied. They say that two of them are flying the Norwegian flag.

Last week, Italy wrote letters to Norway and Germany claiming that ships flying non-governmental flags were violating European security rules and undermining efforts to combat illegal immigration.

Norway responded that it couldn't intervene.

Ambassador Johan Vibe stated in an emailed statement to Reuters that Norway has no responsibility under the human rights conventions and the law of sea for anyone who is taken aboard private Norwegian-flagged vessels in Mediterranean," in a Friday statement.

On Wednesday, the German Embassy urged Italy to offer help quickly. They stated that NGO ships had made a significant contribution to saving lives at sea.

Matteo Piantedosi, the Italian interior minister, said at a press conference that the German-flagged Humanity 1 had 179 passengers, including more than 100 minors, and was headed towards Catania, Sicily.

He said that the boat would be allowed close to the port, and Italy would handle minors and those with health issues. The boat and all those aboard would be taken out of territorial waters.

Piantedosi said: "We won't forget humanitarian obligations... but, we want to stick with the point regarding duties to flag states."

Petra Krischok is a German NGO press officer who is on board the vessel. She said that the migrants are sleeping on the deck, and they could soon be in rough seas after days of great weather.

She stated in an email comment that more than 25% of the group had experienced flu-like symptoms.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY

Two vessels carrying Norwegian flags are sailing off Sicily with more than 800 people aboard.

Norway stated to Italy that it was the state that is responsible for providing assistance in search and rescue operations, where this has been provided, that they have the primary responsibility of co-ordinating the work necessary to ensure safe ports for all those in distress at sea.

The ambassador added: "Neighboring coastal states also have responsibility in such matters."

Charity SOS Mediterranee (which operates the Ocean Viking), said that it had reached out to France, Spain, and Greece to assist as Italy and Malta have not responded to its docking requests.

RMC-BFMTV was informed by Gerald Darmanin, French Interior Minister. He said that international law required Italy to accept migrants. However, Paris and Berlin are open to offering assistance.

He said: "We have informed our Italian friends, along with our German friends that we are prepared to take in some of the children and women so that Italy doesn't have to be alone in receiving them."

According to government data, the number of migrants in Italy has increased by more than 6200 in the past week, compared with 1,400 in the same time period in 2021.

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