Politics
07:52, 17-Jun-2018
Spain says France to take in Aquarius ship migrants
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Madrid said Saturday it has accepted an offer from France to take in some migrants from the Aquarius rescue ship following a turbulent week surrounding the stricken vessel.
The boat, which is due to arrive in Spain on Sunday morning with more than 600 people on board, has been the heart of a major migration row between European Union member states.
"The French government will work together with the Spanish government to handle the arrival of the migrants," Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo said in a statement.
02:04
"France will accept migrants who express the wish to go there" once they have been processed in Valencia, the statement said.
Chartered by a French aid group, the vessel rescued 629 migrants including many children and pregnant women off Libya's cost last weekend.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), who along with French charity SOS Mediterranee are treating migrants on board Aquarius, said two passengers drowned last weekend when the ship first encountered difficulties off Libya.
Members of the SOS Mediterranee NGO talk to rescued migrants aboard the French NGO's ship Aquarius, in the search and rescue zone in the Mediterranean sea, June 12, 2018. /VCG Photo
Members of the SOS Mediterranee NGO talk to rescued migrants aboard the French NGO's ship Aquarius, in the search and rescue zone in the Mediterranean sea, June 12, 2018. /VCG Photo
The passengers come from 26 countries, mainly from Africa but also Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, according to MSF.
Among them are 450 adult men and 80 women – including at least seven pregnant women – as well as 11 under-13s and 93 adolescents, according to the latest figures released by authorities in Valencia.
A team of 2,320 people has been mobilized to meet them, including 1,000 Red Cross volunteers and 470 translators.
Source(s): AFP