Initially, the Ocean Viking sought to dock on the Italian coast, the closest to the place where the migrants – including men, women and 57 children – were rescued. Italy, however, refused, arguing that other countries should take on more responsibility for receiving migrants who try to reach Europe from North Africa each year.
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The French Minister of the Interior, Gérard Darmanin, criticized the Italian refusal to receive the migrants: “A very inhumane Italy”.
The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, from the far right, described France's reaction as “aggressive”, “unjustified” and “incomprehensible”, and said she wants to find “a European solution” to the migration issue.
After three weeks at sea in an unsuccessful search for a safe haven, the Ocean Viking, which rescued migrants off the coast of Libya, docked in France.
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“There is a lot of excitement on board. Everyone is very, very tired, but relieved to reach land. It’s the end of an ordeal,” Laurence Bondard, from the NGO SOS Mediterranean, which operates the ship.
(With AFP)
Curto curation:
- France accepts migrant rescue ship rejected by Italy as tensions rise (The Washington Post*)
- Migrants from the Ocean Viking ship will be welcomed by France after Italy's refusal (UOL)
- Humanitarian ship with 230 migrants arrives in France (G1)
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