Migrants: Geo Barents towards Ancona, "but we will not remain silent"

"Our negotiations with the Italian authorities for a closer port have unfortunately not been successful. Italy is not open to discussion and has categorically rejected our requests. We therefore have no choice but to comply and continue north towards Ancona."

So

which manages the Geo Barents sailing towards the Marche city with 73 migrants rescued off the coast of Libya.

Adhering to the indications of the authorities, however, the NGO points out, "does not mean agreeing. Our position remains unchanged: it is unacceptable to send us to Ancona while other suitable ports are much closer, especially in these weather conditions. ️ This is against international maritime law and the best interests of the survivors.Once again - he adds - this decision targets search and rescue NGOs, but the real price will be paid by the people who flee through the central Mediterranean and find themselves in situations of hardship We will not remain silent and inactive!"

Phone call to Foreign Minister Tunisia

from Foreign Minister

.

"I asked the Tunisian government for a strong commitment - writes Tajani on twitter - to counter irregular departures of migrants and to encourage a greater number of repatriations. I will soon be in Tunis: the Italian government is working to resolve the immigration emergency".

Ocean Viking and Geo Barents "are ships of important tonnage, in the past they remained at sea for 2-3 weeks in weather conditions similar to these, they are not prohibitive, nothing exceptional".

Thus the Minister of the Interior,

.

On the ports assigned to NGO ships "we do things responsibly. We aim for a fair distribution on all other possible landing places, with the task of relieving Sicily and Calabria from being condemned to be Europe's refugee camp" .

And tomorrow afternoon, around 7 pm, the

will arrive at quay 22 of the port of Ancona with 37 migrants rescued off the coast of Libya on board, we learn from the Prefecture of Ancona which is coordinating reception and assistance operations of the shipwrecked.

For the other ship,

, with 73 migrants on board, the landing in Ancona could be postponed to January 12 but an advance is not excluded. 

In Italy already 3,673 landed in 2023, ten times more than 2022. Pakistanis the most numerous, 146 unaccompanied minors There

are already 3,673 people landed in Italy in the first nine days of the year according to data from the Interior Ministry.

A figure that is ten times higher than that recorded in the same period of 2022, when there were 378 arrivals. Pakistanis (345), Egyptians (201) and Syrians (192) are the most represented nationalities.

There are 146 unaccompanied minors landed so far.

The mayor of Lampedusa asks the Municipality to allow hiring.

Staff committed daily to solving landing problems

"The Government must allow us to be able to hire staff: I have 15 employees in all and half of these employees are engaged on a daily basis to resolve issues and problems of the hotspot, starting with the registrar who is perpetually busy making paperwork for victims. But also the technical office is systematically busy with problems of rubbish, sewage from the hotspot and small boats now scattered on all our coasts which are disfigured".

This was stated by the mayor of Lampedusa and Linosa, Filippo Mannino, in Agrigento to participate in the provincial committee for public order and safety convened by the prefect Maria Rita Cocciufa in the presence of the interior minister Matteo Piantedosi.

"

In addition to being able to hire staff, we need economic resources - added Mayor Mannino - which must be anticipated.

I cannot bind all the resources of our budget, taking away services from my fellow citizens, for example by binding sums of social services, youth policies, road maintenance in order to be able to face the expenses deriving from the hotspot or from the Favarolo pier". Lampedusa and Linosa is on the verge of financial instability, also due to the past administrative management. "To avert the instability, at least one and a half million euros would be needed to go to cover the deficit that has accumulated over the years - explained Mannino - and be able to work in peace.

It was one of those measures that we had been promised in the 'Lampedusa package'

Sweden, 'there won't be our initiative on relocations'.

Danielsson, 'a clear legal basis is needed but more aware countries'

"For our part, we will not take any initiative on the relocation issue".

This was underlined by the Swedish ambassador Lars Danielsson when presenting the priorities of the six-monthly EU presidency led by Stockholm to the press.

The diplomat has not ruled out that the chapter on redistribution is in any case on the table at the European Council on 9 and 10 February.

"Today in the EU there is greater awareness that there is a common interest but a clear legal basis is needed that is understood by all members" for an agreement on the internal dimension of the migrant dossier, he explained.

First landing of 2023 in Crotone, 62 arrived. Sailboat rescued offshore, there are also women and children

First landing of migrants of 2023 in the port of Crotone.

It happened last night when sixty-two people came ashore after being rescued off Isola Capo Rizzuto.

A naval unit of the Guardia di Finanza intercepted the sailing ship, which left the Turkish coast.

Also on board were 21 children and 16 women.

The refugees come from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The landing operations in the port were coordinated by the Prefecture of Crotone and managed by the Immigration Office of the Police Headquarters.

The migrants were welcomed by the volunteers of the Italian Red Cross who then proceeded to transfer them to the reception center of Isola Capo Rizzuto.

There are 884 guests in the Lampedusa

hotspot There are 884 migrants present at the Lampedusa hotspot, compared to 398 places available.

Yesterday evening, with the Cossyra ferry that arrived at Porto Empedocle at dawn, 202 guests were transferred.

From today the sea conditions are considered prohibitive and therefore the crossings should stop.

Yesterday, a total of 243 people arrived with 6 different small boats.

In the early afternoon in Agrigento, convened by the prefect Maria Rita Cocciufa, a provincial committee for public order and safety will be held in the presence of the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, the police chief, Lamberto Giannini, and the mayor of Pelagie Philip Mannino.