The "Ocean Viking" on the Mediterranean (archive photo)
Photo:
Flavio Gasperini / SOS Mediterranee / DPA
Italian authorities have allowed the "Ocean Viking" to call at the port of Augusta.
This enables the private aid ship 422 to bring refugees rescued from distress ashore in Sicily.
This was announced by the operating organization SOS Mediterranee.
A spokeswoman expected the "Ocean Viking" to arrive there in the evening.
The "Ocean Viking" had taken the people on two days in the past week on several missions from boats off Libya.
On Saturday, two people had already been picked up because of serious health problems and flown to Malta in a military helicopter, as reported by SOS Mediterranee.
Eight positive corona tests
The situation on the ship was further aggravated by narrowness and bad weather.
The migrants reportedly included young children, pregnant women and unaccompanied minors.
In addition, eight rescued people tested positive for the corona virus in rapid tests.
Some of the boat migrants come from the Ivory Coast, Mali and Sudan.
"This week, as many people tried to flee from Libya via the central Mediterranean as they have not in months," said rescue coordinator Luisa Albera.
The weather conditions for a crossing were particularly favorable.
Civil war has been raging in Libya for years.
The country has developed into one of the most important transit areas for migrants en route from Africa to Europe.
The trips in small boats across the Mediterranean are very dangerous.
According to official figures, more than 1200 people died in the attempt last year.
However, experts assume a high number of unknown deaths.
According to SOS Mediterranee, the "Ocean Viking" is currently the only support ship of its kind in the central Mediterranean.
The Italian coast guard had set it in Sicily for around six months until January and justified this with safety deficiencies.
SOS Mediterranee, however, spoke of "official harassment".
Icon: The mirror
ply / dpa / AFP