The Italian government has set stricter rules for humanitarian organizations that help boat people in the Mediterranean. For example, they must immediately sail to port without performing any other relief actions.
Rescue vessel captains who fail to comply with the new rules can expect a fine of up to €50,000. Their ships can also be chained.
And the people on board must say if they want to seek asylum and in which EU country they want to do so, the Italian government has decided. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants to bring humanitarian organizations into line with international law.
Humanitarian organizations are not satisfied with the new rules. “The new decree is a drowning order,” said Oliver Kulikowski of Sea-Watch, an organization active in the Mediterranean. According to him, the rules conflict with the duty to help people in need.
Médecins Sans Frontières has also criticized the new rules. The organization fears that the number of drowning people will increase.
