A total of 190 migrants, including Pakistanis, who were saved by a rescue ship off the Libyan coast, have been allowed to disembark in the Italian port city of Bari. The migrants had been rescued by the German non-governmental organization Sea-Watch’s vessel ‘Sea-Watch 4’ earlier this month.
The rescue mission was launched on March 7 after the migrants’ boat, carrying people from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Morocco, and Egypt, among other countries, ran into trouble in the Mediterranean Sea. The Sea-Watch 4 rescued the migrants, including women and children, and provided them with food, water, and medical assistance.
The rescue ship had been stranded at sea for several days as European countries refused to allow it to dock. However, Italy finally granted permission for the migrants to disembark in Bari after a deal was struck with Germany, France, and Portugal to take in some of the rescued migrants.
The migrants were transferred to a quarantine ship in Bari, where they will undergo health checks and remain in isolation for two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Italian government has called on other European countries to share the burden of hosting migrants and refugees who arrive on its shores.
The issue of migration has been a contentious issue in Italy, which has seen a large influx of migrants and refugees in recent years. The country has repeatedly called on the European Union to help share the burden of hosting migrants and refugees.
The rescue of the 190 migrants highlights the ongoing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean and the need for coordinated action to address the issue. The Sea-Watch 4 and other rescue ships continue to patrol the Mediterranean Sea to save migrants and refugees who risk their lives to cross the sea in search of a better life in Europe.
The safe disembarkation of the 190 migrants in Bari is a positive step towards ensuring their safety and wellbeing. However, the ongoing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean requires a comprehensive solution that involves the cooperation of all European countries to address the root causes of migration and ensure the safety and dignity of all migrants and refugees.
