The migrant rescue ship 'Sea Watch 5'
operated by the German NGO of the same name arrived in the
Tuscan port of Marina di Carrara on Thursday carrying 119
migrants and refugees rescued in waters off Libya on Sunday.
The group, rescued in two separate operations, includes 26
unaccompanied minors.
The youngest person on board is aged three.
The new arrival takes to around 1,100 the number of migrants and
refugees that have been disembarked in Marina di Carrara in nine
landings following rescue in the Central Mediterranean under the
'distant ports' policy involving instructing NGO ships to
disembark far from the rescue zone.
In this case, the port assigned to the Sea Watch 5 was
approximately 1,150 km from the rescue zone.
"There are no breaks or holidays for (migrant) reception and
this time too, as always, Carrara will be ready and will
contribute to all the operations coordinated by the Prefecture,"
said Carrara Mayor Serena Arrighi.
"I must say that it is not very humane to force 119 people who
have just been rescued, including women and children, to make a
further sea voyage of over 1,100 kilometres," she continued.
"It is an incomprehensible decision that conflicts with those
messages of peace, love and brotherhood that we have seen
government officials flaunt during this festive season,"
concluded Arrighi.
Following disembarkation the migrants and refugees will be taken
by coach to the local exhibition centre for identification
procedures and medical checks before departing for reception
facilities.
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