VALETTA, July 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malta’s prime minister said his
country would relocate to other EU nations 65 migrants from the Alan Kurdi rescue ship, after two other boats defied efforts to stop them landing in neighbouring Italy.
All 65 were transferred to a Maltese navy ship on Sunday evening, the
German charity Sea-Eye which operates the boat said in a statement, adding
that its vessel had been refused entry to Valetta port.
Premier Joseph Muscat tweeted earlier that “following discussions with the
EU Commission and the German government”, the 65 people would be transferred from the Alan Kurdi to a Maltese military “asset which will then enter a Maltese port”.
“All rescued persons on board will be immediately relocated to other EU
member states,” he added.
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said his country would take in up
to 40 migrants — 15 to 20 from the Alan Kurdi and the rest from a group
rescued by Maltese authorities on Sunday, the German media group Funke
reported.
Maltese authorities said they had rescued another group of 50 migrants in
Malta’s search and rescue zone on Sunday, after receiving a distress call
saying their vessel was sinking.
The Alan Kurdi, which had been banned from entering Maltese waters after
waiting off the island of Lampedusa in recent days, is the third rescue
vessel in a week to make headlines.
The Alan Kurdi was carrying migrants who were rescued when they encountered difficulties off Libya.
“None of the said immigrants will remain in #Malta as this case was not
under the responsibility of the Maltese authorities. 3 persons on board in
need of urgent medical attention will be immediately evacuated,” Malta’s
premier added on Twitter. — NNN-AGENCIES
