The cruise ship „Marella Discovery“ has taken in front of the Greek peninsula Peloponnese 111 refugees who tried to get to Italy by boat. The people – including 33 minors – were taken to the Greek port of Kalamata. This was announced by the Greek Coast Guard today.
The boat had fallen into distress on the eve of about 40 nautical miles west of the Peloponnese peninsula. From which states the humans come, is so far unclear. Since the Balkan route has largely been closed, many people are trying to reach Italy via tug-organized crossings from Greece or directly from Turkey on their way to Western Europe.
„Ocean Viking“ sets off for sea rescue
The French NGO Sos Mediterranee and MSF are meanwhile using a new ship in the Mediterranean to rescue refugees. „Ocean Viking“ is the name given to the ship used to search and rescue people off the Libyan coast, the two NGOs that rescued refugees in the Mediterranean until 2018 with the ship „Aquarius“ reported in a press release.
Traveling with a Norwegian flag
The „Ocean Viking“ is traveling with the Norwegian flag towards the Mediterranean, reported the two aid organizations. On board there are 31 crew members. „We can not stand by and watch people die in the Mediterranean,“ said Claudia Lodesani, president of MSF in Italy.
The Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who has been running a „closed ports“ immigration policy for private rescue ships for over a year, reacted polemically to the news of the deployment of the „Ocean Viking“ in the Mediterranean. „Even ships from the North Sea are now starting to support tugs in the Mediterranean: just crazy! In Italy, the ports are closed, „said the Minister of the Interior and head of the right-wing ruling party Lega on Facebook.
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