A ship that rescued more than 400 migrants off the coast of Libya – including eight with Covid-19 – has been given permission to land in Augusta, Sicily
The Ocean Viking, a search and rescue vessel operated by French NGO SOS Méditerranée, had made repeated requests for a safe place to land as a storm loomed in the Mediterranean.
Those on-board include babies, children and pregnant women, with the eight Covid-positive passengers isolating aboard the ship.
One pregnant woman was evacuated from the 69-metre vessel and taken to Malta by helicopter for urgent treatment.
Luisa Albera, the head of SOS Méditerranée’s rescue operations, said the health of some on board was “fragile”.
The 424 migrants were picked up last Thursday and Friday in four separate operations, including 121 who were aboard a flimsy rubber dinghy.
The Ocean Viking was blocked by Italy from carrying out rescues for five months, but since its return on January 11 it has rescued 798 people.
More than 1,200 migrants and asylum seekers died in 2020 attempting to cross the Mediterranean, according to the UN’s migration agency.
Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for greater help to be given to migrants, particularly unaccompanied minors who had sought entry into Europe via its eastern borders.
“In these days, the dramatic situation of those who find themselves on the so-called Balkan route has been brought to my attention,” Pope Francis said. "But there are so many (unaccompanied minors) on all the routes."
“Let's work so that these fragile and defenceless creatures don't lack dutiful care and preferential humanitarian channels,” he added, without naming any countries.
