The last migrants on board land in Italy

The last 35 migrants aboard the Humanity 1 humanitarian ship were still able to enter Italy. The government did not actually allow them to set foot on the ground when they were found “too healthy” after a medical inspection. The ship’s captain then refused to leave the port of Catania in Sicily, where he was allowed to moor in the water last weekend after more than a week. He asked that all migrants be allowed to disembark.

Humanity 1 sails under the German flag. Italy’s new right-wing government therefore felt that Germany should welcome 179 migrants on board. Germany had just asked Italy to help the people on the ship.

Initially, 144 migrants were disembarked because they were in poor health, a condition for Italy to welcome them. Humanity 1 was then asked to leave port, but the captain refused. The remaining migrants then went on hunger strike.

SOS Humanity, the humanitarian organization that uses the ship to rescue migrants, is happy that even the last of the migrants have had a safe haven. “We are relieved that people can land,” a spokesperson told Reuters news agency.

The selection process, which includes only vulnerable migrants, has been heavily criticized by humanitarian organizations. Nor did Italian politics remain silent: according to the opposition, the decisions would have been in violation of human rights and international rules. Leftist politician Aboubakar Soumahoro said the government was playing a political game on the shoulders of traumatized people.

A group of activists stood up for migrants who were not allowed to disembark last weekend:

Three other NGO ships carrying migrants, including the Geo Barents, were moored off the Italian coast. That ship, with more than 200 migrants on board, was also authorized to dock in Catania this weekend. After the selection process, some migrants also had to stay on the ship, but now they too are admitted to Italy.

The Ocean Viking, which flies the Norwegian flag, has not been authorized to dock in Italy despite repeated requests. That ship eventually sailed for France.

The number of migrants traveling by sea to Italy has increased significantly. So far this year there have been nearly 90,000 people, compared to about 57,000 in the same period last year.

Foreign Minister Tajani wants Brussels to find a solution to the problem of migrants.