Hundreds of refugees waiting aboard rescue ships after Italy denied them entry finally come ashore, even as a diplomatic row breaks out between Paris and Rome over another vessel seeking safe harbour
Refugees disembark from Geo Barents rescue ship after having been allowed by Italian authorities, in Catania's port, Sicily, southern Italy.
But on Tuesday night, the Geo Barents and the Humanity 1 finally disembarked the nearly 250 migrants and refugees they carried after Italian health authorities gave them the green light at Sicily's eastern port of Catania. But Italian authorities denied entry to approximately 250 others and ordered the ships to return to sea with them on board, a directive both groups rejected.
"We express our heartfelt appreciation for France's decision to share responsibility for the migration emergency, which until now has remained on the shoulders of Italy and a few other Mediterranean states," Meloni said in a statement. Italian news agency AGI, without citing sources, said France had agreed to accept the Ocean Viking at Marseille. Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on the deal Monday night during the COP27 UN climate summit in Egypt, AGI reported.Earlier Tuesday, a fourth boat — the Rise Above operated by Germany's Mission Lifeline — successfully disembarked all its 89 migrants and refugees, mostly minors, at the port of Reggio Calabria at the toe of Italy.
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