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The rescue ship "Geo Barents", here in the port of Catania on Sicily on November 7th, 2022
Photo: ANTONIO PARRINELLO / REUTERS
The Italian authorities have temporarily detained the rescue ship "Geo Barents", according to the private aid organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
This applies for a period of 20 days, the organization announced late Thursday evening.
In addition, the authorities had imposed a fine of 10,000 euros.
The aid organization brought 48 boat migrants ashore in Ancona last Friday.
The port authority accuses her of not having provided all the information requested.
We are now examining what legal steps we can take.
"It is unacceptable to be punished for saving lives," MSF said in a statement.
Italy's right-wing government under the ultra-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has intensified the crackdown on private sea rescuers.
A new decree will force them to head for a port as soon as they take migrants on board for the first time.
This means that they cannot save other migrants in distress in the central Mediterranean during a trip.
Italy often assigns them ports that are far away from the ships' area of operation, such as the Adriatic port of Ancona in central Italy for the "Geo Barents".
Because of its geographical location, Italy is a particularly frequent destination for migrants who want to get to Europe from North Africa.
According to the Italian Interior Ministry, more than 14,000 refugees have arrived in Italy since the beginning of the year.
In the same period last year there were a little more than 5300.
jso/dpa/AFP
