Ministry of Ship Contractors

Vessel allegedly broke international law by returning 108 people rescued from Mediterranean to Tripoli A search and rescue charity has alleged that an Italian ship returned scores of people rescued from the Mediterranean to Libya, even though Libya is not regarded by Europe as a safe place under international law. In what would be an unprecedented case if confirmed, the Asso 28, an oil rig support vessel, allegedly saved 108 people from a dinghy and then took them to Tripoli. [Read more].

• Angela Giuffrida, Italian ship returned rescued people to Libya, charity says, The Guardian, July 31, 2018

It is against the law for one country to return people to another territory that is at war, or where they could be subjected to the death penalty, torture or other inhumane conditions. Photo: Jon Nazca/Reuters.

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

Aloys Vimard, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)’s project coordinator on board the Aquarius, said the crew and passengers were hoping to reach Valencia, Spain on Saturday evening, although much will depend upon the weather. “The weather is deteriorating and we’re making sure that people are safe – we’ve put ropes across the deck so people can move to the toilet without falling over. It’s going to be tough”. Photo: OnuItalia.com.

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

A wave of peaceful mass protests nationwide has risen up today from north to south against the “immigration policy” introduced by the Italian far-right Minister of the Interior, who denied the migrant rescue ship MS Aquarius permission to dock in Italy. A humanitarian catastrophe was avoided only thank to the intervention of Spanish Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party Pedro Sánchez, who gave the ship permission to dock in Valencia, Spain. Furthermore, it seems very serious that a military corp such as the Coast Guard claims to be, in executing the far-right Minister of the Interior’s order, ended up for committing fragrant violations of international law. As Naples Mayor Luigi de Magistris warns, the story won’t end here: “The port of Naples is open. Whoever prevents a ship from docking in a port to save lives, whoever puts human lives at risk, not only behaves in an undignified, shameful and ethically reprehensible way, but commits a crime against humanity and will be called to answer before international tribunals”.

Mass rally in Milan, Italy. Similar rallies have been held in Bari, Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Livorno, Naples, Rome, Palermo, Turin and so on. Photos: la Repubblica.

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

Video from inside the migrant rescue ship MS Aquarius reveals the cramped and difficult conditions 629 rescued migrants and the crew of the humanitarian aid boat are living in. Italian far-right Minister of the Interior denied the ship permission to disembark at its ports, while the new Spanish Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party Pedro Sánchez has given the ship permission to dock in Valencia, Spain.

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

Mediterranean Sea: Migrants are rescued by MV Aquarius, a search and rescue ship run by SOS Méditerranée and Médecins Sans Frontières in the central Mediterranean Photograph: Reuters.

Who’s Who

Palermo mayor offers to open port to rescue vessel but may need coastguard cooperation. [Read more].

• Patrick Wintour, Lorenzo Tondo and Stephanie Kirchgaessner, Southern mayors defy Italian coalition to offer safe port to migrants, The Guardian, June 11, 2018

Migrants disembark from the Aquarius after its arrival in Sicily in January. The ship now has 629 people on board rescued near the coast of Libya. Photo: Antonio Parrinello/Reuters.

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Daniel Etter, whose images from Kos touched the hearts of millions last year, returned to Greece this September to photograph the islanders who feature in the new documentary short Ode to Lesvos, created by Johnnie Walker® to shine a light on the inspirational acts of compassion shown in response to the refugee crisis. [Read more].

• Daniel Etter, Ode to Lesbos, the villagers who helped refugees – in pictures, The Guardian, October 5, 2016

“We all wanted to help. It’s natural to want to help. Having babies safe in my arms is a blessing”, Maristsa Mavrapidou says of the role she and other islanders played in providing care and comfort to thousands of refugees who arrived in 2015. Mavrapidou, photographed collecting eggs from her chickens in Skala Sykamineas, was one of those who helped care for refugees. Photo: Daniel Etter.

The Wave

• Associated Press in Belgrade, Refugees stuck in Serbia begin marching towards Hungarian border, The Guardian, October 4, 2016

Refugees walk towards Serbian border with Hungary to protest against its closure for most people trying to reach EU. Photo: Darko Vojinović/AP.