Italy is making it more difficult for NGOs to rescue refugees at sea and has passed a corresponding decree. Doctors Without Borders fears an increase in deaths in the Mediterranean.
The aid organization Doctors Without Borders, which works to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean, criticizes the code of conduct for rescue ships adopted by the Italian government on Wednesday night. The cabinet decided that ships would have to go to port “immediately” after a rescue at sea, rather than spend more time looking for other refugee boats at sea.
NGOs must also inform migrants rescued on board their ships that they can seek protection anywhere in the European Union. In case of infringement, captains incur a fine of up to 50,000 euros. In case of repeated violations, the ship can be confiscated.
“This strategy increases the risk of death”
“We will be forced to leave relief areas in the Mediterranean unprotected, which will inevitably lead to an increase in the death toll. The lack of a government relief system is a void we have been trying to fill in recent years. But if the government becomes ours, difficult, if not impossible task, then who will save lives in the Mediterranean?” asked Marco Bertotto, head of MSF’s Italian branch, in an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa on Thursday.
Riccardo Gatti, responsible for the Geo Barents rescue ship operated by Doctors Without Borders, warned of the negative effects of the government decree. “If there is no ambulance, the patient will not be rescued and could die. For years, attempts have been made to stop the work of rescue ships in the Mediterranean. This strategy exponentially increases the risk of death for thousands of people. And it turns off the only eyes that see what happens,” said Gatti.
Meloni insists on European mission
Since taking office in October, the government has targeted the activities of aid organizations, accusing them of using their work to benefit traffickers. Around 102,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far in 2022, interior ministry data show.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended her right-wing cabinet’s migration policy at a news conference on Thursday. It is to her government’s credit to have put the issue of migration back at the center of the political agenda of EU member states, which Italy has done only “insufficiently” so far. Meloni called for a European mission aligned with North African countries to prevent migrant outflows to Europe and actively combat human trafficking. Only refugees and non-economic migrants should be redistributed in Europe, Meloni explained. She called for “respect for international law” from NGOs.