The "Geo Barents" entered the port of Catania on Sunday. Italian authorities allowed 357 migrants, including children, to disembark while 215 others had to remain on board. One of them was later taken to a hospital with acute abdominal pain.

According to Doctors Without Borders, many of the people staying on board suffer from "infectious skin diseases" and are under great psychological stress. The options for treating sick migrants on the ship are limited.

The German-flagged rescue ship "Humanity 1" is also anchored in the port of Catania. As of Sunday, 144 minors and the sick had been given permission to go ashore. According to the sea rescue organization SOS Humanity, 35 men had to stay on board. Those affected were assessed as healthy. However, no translator was present during the investigation, and no psychological assessment was carried out.

SOS Humanity announced that it would take legal action against the Italian government. "Humanity 1" captain Joachim Ebeling defied the authorities' request to leave the port. All survivors have the right to disembark in a safe haven, Ebeling told journalists on Monday. He will not go anywhere with the people on board.

Italy's new government, led by ultra-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has announced a restrictive course in dealing with boat people. Two other ships have been waiting for days off Italy's coast for permission to disembark their rescued people. One of them, Mission Lifeline's "Rise Above," has reportedly been assigned a port.