German rescue ship lands migrants safely in Sicily

Refugees are seen after being rescued from the Mediterranean Sea on 15 June 2017 [Marcus Drinkwater/Anadolu Agency]

A vessel operated by the German NGO Sea-Eye arrived on Sunday in the Sicilian port of Trapani carrying 847 migrants who were rescued in the central Mediterranean Sea. The NGO had previously asked the Italian authorities for a safe port in which to disembark the migrants.

Italian media outlets reported that the Sea Eye 4 arrived in Trapani after being granted permission by the Italian authorities following days of waiting at sea. According to the NGO, the rescue ship was carrying five pregnant women as well as over 200 minors, including “many children under the age of 10”.

The migrants are scheduled to stay on a quarantine ship for about two weeks before being taken to the mainland.

READ: Greece adopts ‘brutality against asylum seekers’ as policy: German weekly

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