Politics
13:06, 17-Jun-2018
Aquarius ship migrants arrive at Spanish port
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The first group of migrants rescued by the Aquarius charity-run vessel has arrived at a port in Valencia on Sunday.
An Italian navy boat, the Dattilo, carrying some of the 630 migrants from the Aquarius, entered the port just before 6:30 a.m. (0430 GMT).
The Dattilo rescue ship arrives at port in Valencia, Spain, June 17, 2018. /VCG Photo
The Dattilo rescue ship arrives at port in Valencia, Spain, June 17, 2018. /VCG Photo
The other migrants will arrive on another Italian navy ship, the Orione, and the Aquarius by noon, regional authorities said.
They were turned away by Italy and Malta before they turned their way to Spain, at the invitation of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The migrants, mainly from Africa, will be welcomed by a team of more than 2,000 people, including 1,000 Red Cross volunteers and 470 translators.
Red Cross members, Spanish Guardia Civil guards and Spanish police officers welcome migrants from the Italian navy boat the Dattilo at the port of Valencia, June 17, 2018. /VCG Photo
Red Cross members, Spanish Guardia Civil guards and Spanish police officers welcome migrants from the Italian navy boat the Dattilo at the port of Valencia, June 17, 2018. /VCG Photo
High waves and winds forced the convoy to take a detour on their 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) voyage to Spain.
A huge banner was earlier put up at the port saying "Welcome home" in various languages including Catalan, the local language, and Arabic.
"People are coming forward for everything: serving as translators, providing accommodation," said Johnson Tamayo, a 51-year-old artist and Red Cross volunteer.
The Dattilo rescue ship arrives at port in Valencia, Spain, June 17, 2018. /VCG Photo
The Dattilo rescue ship arrives at port in Valencia, Spain, June 17, 2018. /VCG Photo
The passengers are made up of 450 adult men and 80 women – including at least seven pregnant women – as well as 11 under-13s and 89 adolescents, according to figures released by authorities in Valencia.
They come from 26 countries, mainly from Africa but also Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
Chartered by a French aid group, Aquarius rescued the migrants off Libya's coast last weekend.
MSF, who along with French charity SOS Mediterranee are treating the migrants on board the ship, said two passengers drowned last weekend when the ship first encountered difficulties off Libya.
(With inputs from AFP)