Another NGO challenges Salvini's xenophobia | The Medit …

The Alex boat of the Italian NGO Mediterranea arrived today at the port of Lampedusa with 41 immigrants, disobeying the ban on the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Salvini, who in principle did not authorize the landing of the rescued persons. The 20 meter sailboat gained unauthorized access to Italian territorial waters and is moored on the island. All immigrants are crammed on deck and protect themselves from the sun with thermal blankets, as shown by a report from the NGO.

Police officers and volunteers from the Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies waited on the platform, as well as people who saluted the boat with applause.

However, deputy prime minister and head of the xenophobic Northern League Salvini announced that it would not allow immigrants to get off the boat and set foot in Italy: "I do not allow any landings", did he declare.

The rescuers remain seated on the deck of the sailboat, beside the wharf, without being able to lower, after several days on the high seas, before the eyes of the Italian agents.

"The shipwrecked and the crew are exhausted, the 41 people saved have to be treated and healed, we are living in a surreal situation and it is cruel to prolong this waiting, get them off immediately," tweeted. NGOs, while some of the current symptoms of salvados diseases like scabies.

The ultra-right Salvini maintains a policy of closing ports to NGOs, which he accuses of fomenting illegal immigration, and has promoted a decree that provides for fines of up to 50 000 euros to those who violate this provision.

However, the owner of the ship, Alessandro Metz, explained on Twitter that he is ready to badume all responsibilities.

The Mediterranea NGO saved 54 immigrants last Thursday in international waters off Libya. After the evacuation of thirteen people among pregnant women and children, the rest was waiting on the deck of this little ship, under a suffocating sun, during this year's European summer.

While the ship was on the high seas, Italy sent supplies, such as 34 boxes of drinking water, 54 menus, nearly two hundred thermal blankets and four packages of disinfectants.

But as soon as the boat docked at Lampedusa, Salvini's reaction was immediate and furious. He accused the NGO of rejecting the water sent to declare the state of necessity and violate its decree on immigration. "They ask for money to pay the fines provided by the decree, so the donations go up, they go back to Libya to encourage the outings (of immigrants) and the risk of shipwrecks, and they make happy the traffickers of people.

He announced that his party, the League, which governs Italy and the populist Five Star movement, will introduce an amendment to its decree to increase the amount of fines of one million euros for violation. territorial waters and facilitating the seizure of ships.

The Mediterranean organization follows the example of the captain of the ship Sea Watch 3, the German Carola Rackete (see separately), who entered Lampedusa on June 29 with 42 immigrants on board after 17 days of waiting. He was put under house arrest.

Although she opened an investigation, the Italian justice released her shortly thereafter. She acknowledged in her judgment that "the duty" to save lives at sea was a priority, which aroused the wrath of Salvini, who had not stopped asking for prison for. she

A second ship is waiting for a port off Lampedusa. This is Alan Kurdi of the German NGO Sea-Eye, with 65 immigrants on board.