THE captain of a merchant vessel carrying over 50 rescued refugees has warned that no European authority is responding to his calls for help as the ship runs out of food and water.

The Talia, a Lebanese commercial vessel that ships livestock, saved the lives of 52 people who were stranded inside Malta’s search-and-rescue zone last Friday evening.

Since then the ship has weathered a storm and has been bounced around by the Maltese and Italian authorities, who have each blocked it from its ports and claimed the other is responsible for the passengers’ safety.