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Rescued Migrants Turned Away By Italy Arrive In Spain

Over 600 migrants who've been stranded at sea for a week are being seen by crisis workers in Spain....
TodayFM
TodayFM

7:24 AM - 17 Jun 2018



Rescued Migrants Turned Away B...

News

Rescued Migrants Turned Away By Italy Arrive In Spain

TodayFM
TodayFM

7:24 AM - 17 Jun 2018



Over 600 migrants who've been stranded at sea for a week are being seen by crisis workers in Spain.

Pregnant women and children are among those who've arrived in Valencia, after being refused entry by Italy - they were picked up by the Aquarius off Libya last Sunday.

They have become the focus of a pan-European disagreement over migration, has docked in Valencia.

They were left stranded while European countries argued about who should take them in.

They have 45 days until they must begin to resolve their legal situation, Spanish police said.

Among those rescued are seven children aged under five, 32 children aged between five and 15 years, 61 young people aged from 15 to 17 and 80 women, seven of whom are pregnant.

The Italian coast guard vessel Dattilo arrived in the Spanish port just before 7am local time on Sunday, and was followed by the Aquarius and another Italian navy ship, the Orione.

The migrants were rescued a week ago off the coast of Libya and have been at sea ever since after the Italian government refused to allow the vessel they were aboard to dock in Italy.

Malta also refused to allow them to dock there, arguing that the Italians had assumed responsibility for the rescue operations.

But the new socialist government in Spain said that the Aquarius would be allowed to dock in Valencia - at least a four-day voyage away.

The Italians then agreed to transfer back some of the migrants to two of their vessels which, with the Aquarius, set sail for Spain.

The debacle promoted a mid-week diplomatic spat after French President Emmanuel Macron accused the Italian government of "cynicism and irresponsibility" for refusing to take the Aquarius.



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