The Spanish NGO Open Arms migrant
rescue ship which on Tuesday said it had rescued a woman and
recovered the bodies of another woman and her child off Libya on
Wednesday set off for Spain after Interior Minister Matteo
Salvini accused it of lying.
"Docking in an Italian port Presents many critical factors,"
the NGO said.
"The first are the words of Interior Minister Matteo Salvini
who described our reconstruction as lies and insults.
Italy had assigned Catania as the port of landing of the Open
Arms and had offered to evacuated the injured woman, as did
Malta.
Earlier Open Arms published the photos of the woman and child
who allegedly drowned because of inaction by the Libyan coast
guard.
"This is the consequence of Italy's new policy" of
discouraging NGOs and shutting Italy's ports to foreign NGOs,
Open Arms said.
Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi said "we do not deem
any longer applicable the Sophia mission rules which see Italy
as the sole place of landing for migrants rescued by us".
European Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said
Wednesday "we are shocked" by the alleged incident off the
Libyan coast where the local coast guard failed to save a woman
and child from drowning.
"We must avoid (this) recurring in the future, but it is also
important that all member States understand the this is also
their moral, humanitarian obligation and is fully in line with
the principles of European policy".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA