The German sea rescuers of the "Humanity 1" anchored in Sicily see their mission confirmed by Rome's controversial measures.
The ship's crew has so far been forbidden from bringing the last 35 of almost 180 rescued people ashore in the port city of Catania. Many see this as harassment by the right-wing government to keep Mediterranean migrants out. "Humanity" captain Joachim Ebeling does not want to be intimidated by this. "What we are experiencing here right now leaves me with no doubts about doing something like this again," he told the German Press Agency. "It reassures me that we're doing the right thing here."
The captain from Bremen steered the ship into the port of Catania at the weekend after waiting for days. Minors, women and some men who were classified as needing help were then allowed to disembark there. Ebeling was to leave the port with the 35 remaining. He refused because according to international law, all rescued people are allowed to enter the country.
"Applicable law is trampled on"
"I've never seen anything like it," he said. With other missions in the past, it was difficult to get permission to bring people to a port. "But if they did, then really all the people came ashore and there was not such a selection as we are now experiencing here."
The situation on board is becoming increasingly difficult - just like on the ship "Geo Barents" of the organization Doctors Without Borders, which also thawed in Catania and from which three migrants jumped into the sea in desperation on Monday to swim ashore . "When I see that I have people on board who have the right to go ashore but are prevented from doing so by the authorities, then I'm just angry," said Ebeling. Applicable law is trampled underfoot.
Rescuers face fines if they continue to ignore the authorities' instructions. Lawyers are already active for the organization SOS Humanity. Ebeling is apparently not deterred by the legal dispute. "It's always been impossible for me to let people drown and not help them when they need help," he said. "I am very happy that I can now actively contribute something as a seaman through my work with the non-governmental organizations."
