Malta Will Accept Migrants On NGO Vessel And Relocate Them To Other Countries
Malta has agreed to let an NGO-operated vessel with 65 migrants on board enter its ports after reaching an agreement with unspecified EU member states to immediately relocate the people on board.
The Alan Kurdi, operated by the German NGO Sea Eye, drafted a course for Malta yesterday evening after being denied entry to the Italian island of Lampedusa.
Following discussions with @EU_Commission and #Germany gov, #Malta gov will transfer 65 rescued immigrants on board #AlanKurdi to @Armed_Forces_MT asset which will then enter a Maltese port. All rescued persons on board will be immediately relocated to other #EU Member States.
— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) July 7, 2019
None of the said immigrants will remain in #Malta as this case was not under the responsibility of the Maltese authorities. 3 persons on board in need of urgent medical attention will be immediately evacuated.
— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) July 7, 2019
As a sign of recognition to the goodwill of the #Malta government, #EU Member States will also take half of the 58 migrants rescued in a separate operation by @Armed_Forces_MT , in a case under the responsibility of the Maltese authorities.
— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) July 7, 2019
In a statement, the government said that, following discussions with the European Commission and the German government, it will transfer all the 65 migrants to an AFM vessel which will then enter a Maltese port.
“All the rescued persons on board will be immediately relocated to other European Union member states,” the government said. “None of the said immigrants will remain in Malta as this case was not under the responsibility of the Maltese authorities.”
“Three persons on board in need of urgent medical attention will be immediately evacuated.”
The government added that unspecified EU member states have also agreed to take in at least half of the 58 migrants rescued by the AFM in Malta’s search and rescue zone earlier today.
Cover photo: Sea-Eye