MSF disembarks 237 migrants after criticizing Italy for "unnecessarily" lengthening their journey to a safe harbor

MADRID, 29 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Doctors Without Borders has confirmed this Sunday the safe disembarkation of 237 migrants after an "unnecessary trip" to the Italian port of La Spezia (in the Italian region of Liguria, in the north of the country), a hundred hours of navigation from the initial location of his rescue ship the 'Geo Barents'.

"The 237 survivors, including many women and children, have finally made landfall after a long and unnecessary journey," lamented the NGO on its Twitter account after denouncing yesterday that the port assigned by the Italian authorities was at an exaggerated distance. long from the position of the ship.

"There are closer ports," the NGO pointed out, recalling that it is not the first time that the Italian authorities have resorted to this type of technique, in which the organizations see a tactic to discourage search and rescue activity in the Mediterranean central.

For MSF, which has spoken on social networks, this type of authorization goes "against international maritime law and guidelines."

The arrival of the ultra-right in the Government of Italy has led to a toughening of policies towards NGOs, which continue to demand clear disembarkation mechanisms and institutional surveillance of the migratory route that crosses the Mediterranean. So far in 2023 alone, at least 27 people have died in the central zone, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).