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Rescue operation of the "Sea-Eye 4" (archive)
Photo: Oriol Lazaros Planas / picture alliance/dpa/sea eye
Italian authorities have assigned the German aid organization Sea-Eye to Naples as a new port for their more than 100 people rescued from the Mediterranean Sea.
The crew of the "Sea-Eye 4" expect to arrive at the new destination on Monday, said spokesman Maximilian James of the German Press Agency on Sunday.
According to the organization, the captain had previously protested against the original assignment to go to Pesaros, south of Rimini on the Adriatic Sea.
The port would have resulted in a significantly longer journey.
The voluntary helpers of the organization, which is financed by donations, saved more than 100 people from distress in the Mediterranean Sea in two missions in the night from Thursday to Friday.
Accordingly, they took a total of 109 people on board: 30 survivors and two dead in the first rescue, 77 survivors in the second rescue.
According to Sea-Eye, two people were in such poor health that they were taken off board.
After the two evacuations, there are currently 105 survivors and two deceased on board.
"The first evacuee is currently being treated in hospital and the second evacuee has tragically passed away," Sea-Eye said.
Stricter rules for sea rescuers
The migrants had left the coasts of North Africa for the life-threatening crossing towards Italy and thus the European Union.
Rome's right-wing government wants to work with the authorities in the countries of departure to bring people with the right to asylum to Europe in a coordinated manner.
During her recent visit to Berlin, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized that most migrants who reached Italy did not have this right to protection.
Her government also tightened the rules for civilian sea rescuers like Sea-Eye.
These must now head for a port after the first rescue.
The decision-makers in Rome explained that the rescued people would be helped more quickly.
The aid organizations, on the other hand, consider this to be a limitation.
dam/dpa
