Italian Authorities Seize Charity Vessel at Center of Sea Dispute with Libya
On Tuesday, Italian authorities impounded a German charity vessel amidst a dispute with the Libyan coast guard over the rescue of approximately 100 migrants in international waters. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by charity-operated rescue vessels in the Mediterranean.
The vessel in question, Humanity 1, operated by the SOS Humanity organization, was subjected to a 20-day block by Italian authorities in the southern port of Crotone. The ship docked on Monday, bringing ashore 77 migrants rescued over the weekend. Italy frequently halts the operations of charity-operated rescue vessels under a migration decree implemented last year by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s rightist government.
SOS Humanity rejected the accusations made against them, asserting that they were “falsely accused” of failing to coordinate with Libyan authorities and endangering migrants’ lives during a sea rescue operation. According to the charity, they intervened to aid 90–100 migrants on three distressed boats in international waters off Libya and Tunisia. The Libyan coast guard allegedly attempted to forcefully obstruct the rescue, with reports of threats using a machine gun, resulting in people jumping into the water and at least one person drowning. The intervention also led to the separation of family members, as some migrants were picked up by the NGO while others were taken by the Libyan authorities.
Libyan authorities have not responded to requests for comment. Notably, under international humanitarian law, migrants cannot be forcibly returned to countries where they face the risk of serious ill-treatment, and documented cases of widespread migrant abuse in Libya raise concerns about such returns.
Simultaneously, European Union governments, including Italy, are working to mitigate the influx of sea migrants from North Africa. They have offered financial assistance and equipment to countries like Libya and Tunisia to prevent departures from their shores. The incident underscores the delicate balance between humanitarian obligations, the safety of migrants, and the broader efforts to manage and regulate migration flows in the region.
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