On board the Ocean Viking (AFP)

On the humanitarian vessel Ocean Viking, which seeks as the Open Arms a safe port to disembark 356 migrants rescued for the first 10 days ago, uncertainty remains in place but the atmosphere is less tense.

"When will we arrive?", "Where are we going?", Migrants regularly ask during the long days of food and tea.

"For the moment the mood is good, people cooperate," notes Jay Berger, coordinator of the MSF mission aboard the ship chartered by SOS Mediterranean and Doctors Without Borders.

"We are doing our best but we did not imagine it would last so long and it's not good for anyone," he adds.

Sunday, a passage to the showers was organized. The big red boat has 6 showers for men and two for women, who are currently five with four children, but the need to save water requires access restrictions.

To save fuel, the ship is almost in the middle of the road between Malta and the Italian island of Linosa, near Lampedusa, where tension rises aboard the Spanish ship Open Arms.

A washing point was also organized at the back of the boat and, above all, a hairdressing salon was established on the bridge, thanks to several barbers among the migrants, to whom a member of the crew lent a lawnmower.

"Every day we try to find something that distracts them," says Berger. So on Saturday, an "emotionally intense" drawing session allowed many to express their feelings and sufferings.

But the wait is difficult, and the tension rises a little more each evening, at the time of the distribution of cartons and blankets, when it is necessary that everyone finds a place to lie on the bridge.

"We can not tell them to wait three days, or a week, all we can say is: + we'll be here with you as long as we need and we do our best to get you the situation as comfortable as possible + ", explains Jay Berger.

© 2019 AFP