Rome, November 7 (BNA): A German migrant rescue ship carrying more than 800 people has been allowed to dock in the Italian port of Trapani.
German news agency dpa reports that Sea-Eye 4, operated by the aid organization of the same name, is carrying more than 200 minors and five pregnant women.
On Saturday, the ship sailed off Sicily and is awaiting permission from Italian authorities to be allowed to dock.
He is expected to arrive in Trapani, on the western tip of Sicily, on Sunday.
“We are relieved and excited that the difficult hours for our crew and the rescued people will end on Sunday and that people will finally be safe in Italy,” said Jordan Isler of Sea-Eye.
He said he was “horrified” by “Malta’s failure to provide assistance”.
He said the island nation had not responded to emergency calls throughout the week.
Sea-Eye 4 rescued more than 800 migrants from the central Mediterranean in several operations between Tuesday and Thursday.
About half of them got out of a cramped wooden boat filled with water.
The first destination was the island of Lampedusa. However, the ship was not allowed to dock there.
Isler told dpa that the ship then continued towards Sicily, where the chances were considered better and the weather getting worse.
On Saturday, the Mission Lifeline charity ship Rise Above Sea-Eye 4 provided food and blankets.
In addition to Sea-Eye 4, Ocean Viking, which belongs to the European aid organization SOS Mediterranee, operates in the central Mediterranean between southern Italy, Malta and North Africa.
It was said that the Ocean Viking had 314 migrants on board.
MI