NGO refugee rescue ship left waiting on European help that never came
Sea Watch 3 finally released after being held for seven months for ‘absurd’ reasons
An SMH rescuer attends to people onboard a wooden boat
AN NGO refugee rescue ship in the central Mediterranean waited hours today for help from the Maltese and Italian coastguards that never came after the vessel saved the lives of 148 people, 28 more than it is legally allowed to carry.
Basque charity Humanitarian Maritime Rescue (SMH) announced in the morning that the Aita Mari had located 102 people — including a seven-month-old baby and two pregnant women — in a wooden boat within Malta's search-and-rescue zone (SAR).
“The rescue ship will now wait for the European authorities to assign, as required by law, the closest safe port,” SMH said after the first rescue.
More from this author
Ben Cowles speaks with IAN ‘TREE’ ROBINSON and ANDY DAVIES, two of the string pullers behind the Manchester Punk Festival, ahead of its 10th year show later this month
Ben Cowles previews his interview with Stand Up to Racism’s SABBY DHALU for the Morning Star’s new Youtube channel
