Madrid (AFP)
The Spanish government has proposed Sunday to host in the port of Algesiras (extreme south) the boat of the NGO Proactiva Open Arms carrying a hundred migrants, facing the "inconceivable" refusal of Italy to offer a port of reception.
The head of the Spanish government, the Socialist Pedro Sanchez, "ordered today (Sunday) the authorization of the port of Algesiras to receive the boat + Open Arms +", which is currently facing the Italian island of Lampedusa, because of the "emergency situation" on board and facing the "inconceivable decision of the Italian authorities to close all its ports", announced the government in a statement.
Madrid made this decision "because of the emergency situation on board after two weeks of sailing", and while the ship is still carrying 105 adults and two children in "unsustainable" conditions, said Open Arms.
"Spanish ports are neither the closest nor the safest for the Open Arms, but for the moment Spain is the only country willing to host it as part of a European solution," he added. NGOs.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry, however, issued in a statement a final appeal "to the Italian authorities to allow the disembarkation" of migrants, ensuring that they are distributed among European countries "as agreed" .
Italy's interior minister, the right-wing leader Matteo Salvini, has let Saturday sack 27 unaccompanied minor migrants. But he continues to refuse the landing of the rest of the passengers.
© 2019 AFP