Sea Watch stopped for 20 days, it had rescued 289 migrants

(ANSA) – ROME, 04 SEPTEMBER – After reaching Civitavecchia, rescuing 289 people, the Italian authorities blocked the Sea Watch5. “We will have to remain in port for 20 days, unable to save lives”, the German NGO says. The accusation, explains Sea Watch, “is that of having rescued without first receiving permission from the Libyan authorities, when however international law does not require having to receive authorization to be able to rescue those in danger at sea”. Furthermore, it adds, “the Libyan rescue coordination center does not meet the international requirements to be defined as such. Even the Crotone court ruled in April that the activities of the Libyan coast guard cannot be classified as rescue activities”. Therefore, the NGO concludes, “we are once again faced with a confused act of disturbance, aimed at hindering the only ships that in fact take on the tasks that the States themselves ignore: saving people at sea and ensuring respect for fundamental human rights”. (ANSA).