AT SEA / ITALY: The migrants arrived in Sicily after being stranded at sea for four days during a diplomatic stand off between Italy and Malta

Record ID: 348407

  • Title: AT SEA / ITALY: The migrants arrived in Sicily after being stranded at sea for four days during a diplomatic stand off between Italy and Malta
  • Date: 21st April 2009
  • Summary: AT SEA, IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS BETWEEN ITALY AND MALTA (APRIL 19, 2009) (REUTERS) COAST GUARD REACHING TURKISH VESSEL "PILAR" VARIOUS OF BODY BAG CARRYING DEAD PREGNANT WOMAN BEING LIFTED OFF THE BOAT VARIOUS OF COAST GUARD THROWING FOOD AND WATER VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS ON TURKISH CARGO SHIP "PILAR" MIGRANTS ON DECK, WRAPPED IN BLANKETS PEOPLE ORGANISING WATER FOR MIGRANTS
  • Embargoed: 6th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0HE1B7VWD7PYKB7CKT535XQN
  • Story Text: Nearly 140 illegal immigrants were stranded on a ship in the Mediterranean for four days while Italy and Malta argued over who should accept them, before they arrived in Sicily on Monday (April 20).
    Rome had initially said the migrants were Malta's responsibility, but the small island state insisted they had been rescued closer to Italy.
    On Sunday (April 19) doctors examined the migrants whilst onboard a Turkish cargo ship that picked them out of the sea on Thursday (April 16) as the two nations argued on should accept them.
    The voyage left one pregnant woman dead and several others sick.
    The medical assessment of the health situation on board persuaded Italy to stop the stand off and arrange for the immigrants be taken to Sicily.
    Rescuers evacuated an advance group of around 20 immigrants with health problems to the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa on Sunday.
    More of the migrants arrived in Porto Empedocle on Monday on two Italian vessels. They were escorted by police onto buses for processing.
    Many are expected to request asylum.
    Italian government sources said the dispute was unblocked when Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told his Maltese counterpart Lawrence Gonzi that Italy would take the migrants as a humanitarian gesture.
    But first Berlusconi received a promise from European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso that the Commission would take up the issue to clarify responsibilities in such situations.
    Every year tens of thousands of illegal immigrants try to reach southern Italy in rickety boats from the coast of nearby north Africa. Many of them perish when their boats capsize, or die of exposure.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register