Migrants aboard the Spanish
NGO rescue ship Open Arms are going to the toilet near where
they are eating because of overcrowding aboard the vessel,
according to a doctor's report seen by ANSA - though Interior
Minister Matteo Salvini called reports of a medical emergency
aboard "fake".
"The general situation sees very poor sanitary and hygienic
conditions: spaces unfit to hold such a huge number of people,"
said the report on the 140 odd migrants picked up off Libya two
weeks ago, compiled by Doctor Katia Valeria Di Natale and nurse
Daniele Maestrini, members of the Cisom staff.
"The rescued migrants are living piled on top of each other,
there is no possibility of walking, there are only two chemical
toilets and often the migrants are forced to meet their
physiological needs in the same space where they sleep and eat".
Asked about the reported medical emergency, Salvini said the
reports were "made up".
"This is the latest stitch-up from the NGOs, I'm not giving
up," he said.
Another four migrants landed from the Open Arms for medical
treatment on the Italian island of Lampedusa overnight, the
Spanish NGO said Friday.
It said all 140 or so migrants aboard the ship - down from
about 150 initially - must be allowed to disembark.
"All the persons on board must be allowed to land urgently,"
the NGO said.
"Humanity imposes it".
On Thursday evening another nine migrants were allowed off
the ship.
They were moved to the hotspot on the island.
Interior Minister and anti-migrant League leader Salvini is
not allowing the migrants to land due to his closed ports policy
in spite of a Lazio court order to let them in, which he has
appealed.
A doctor on the island said Friday that those who have landed
were in relatively good condition.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
