The United Nations has called on European Union states to “do the right thing” and offer refuge to people rescued from the Mediterranean Sea.
The call comes as 150 people remain stranded aboard a coastguard ship off Sicily – with the Italian government refusing to let them disembark.
The Italian Government is refusing to let them come ashore unless other EU nations commit to taking them in.
The Diciotti coastguard ship has been docked in the old port of Catania on the Italian island of Sicily for days.
The situation of refugees and migrants on the “Diciotti” in Catania offends international principles and values. I appeal - strongly - to Italy and the EU to allow disembarkation and make it a collective European effort. https://t.co/Mj7vpuQtYe
— Filippo Grandi (@RefugeesChief) August 25, 2018
In a statement this morning, Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, called on European countries to "do the right thing and offer places of asylum for people rescued from the Mediterranean Sea in their time of need."
He also urged the Italian authorities to let the Diciotti passengers to immediately come ashore in the meantime.
“Throughout history, Europe has recognized a fundamental moral and legal obligation to come to the aid of people fleeing war, violence and persecution,” he said.
“The time has come to end the back-and-forth that has seen countries competing in a race to the bottom on who can take the least responsibility for people rescued at sea.
“It is dangerous and immoral to put the lives of refugees and asylum-seekers at risk while States engage in a political tug-of-war on long-term solutions.”
A man aboard the Italian Coast Guard ship Diciotti, 24-08-2018. Image: Orietta Scardino/AP/Press Association Images
Mr Grandi noted that members of the European Council agreed at its last Summit in June that people saved on EU territory should be taken charge of on the basis of a shared effort according to international law.
He commended the EU States that have come forward to recived people rescued from the Mediterranean but voiced concern over the “potential consequences of a continued ‘ad-hoc’ approach.”
He said the refugee crisis requires “established and predictable arrangements” to ensure there is clear procedure in place for those who are rescued.
He warned that lives continue to “hang in the balance” with over 1,600 people already having lost their lives in the attempt to reach European shores this year.
A man aboard the Italian Coast Guard ship Diciotti, 24-08-2018. Image: Orietta Scardino/AP/Press Association Images
The crew of the Diciotti rescued the group from the water after they were spotted on a foundering human trafficker's boat,
There were originally 177 refugees on the vessel - but 27 teenagers were allowed to disembark in Catania on Wednesday.
Thirteen young children and ailing adults have also been evacuated from the Diciotti.
The majority of those on-board are Eritrean, while the others are from Somalia, Syria and Sudan.
They have told authorities that they suffered months and even years of inhumane treatment in detention in Libya while waiting to leave aboard smugglers' boats.
More than 600,000 rescued migrants have arrived on Italian shores in recent years.
