The EU's Operation Sophia to rescue
migrants in the Mediterranean is not a pull factor for those
setting off, operation commander Admiral Enrico Credendino told
ANSA Thursday.
Credendino was speaking after days of accusations that
sea-born rescues were attracting more migrants, and allegations
that NGO vessels were helping people traffickers.
"Migrants certainly don't leave because boats at sea are a
pull factor, but because there are wars, terrorism, lack of food
and water," Credendino said, citing the major push factors in
the exodus.
"Even without Sophia the migrants would leave anyway, in fact
when Mare Nostrum was suspended and before Safe Sea, the number
of migrants went up, not down."
Credendino said there were now more NGO operations but "we're
not getting in each other's way".
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