Europe Migrant Crisis: Ships turned away by Italy and Malta

World
Europe

02:45

Some 600 migrants pulled from the Mediterranean this month are finally on dry land. Spain welcomed the ships after Italy and Malta refused to accept them. But, while the migrants' plight at sea has ended - this odyssey is far from over. CGTN's Al Goodman reports from Valencia.

The Aquarius arrives at Valencia, Spain. This ship, the focal point of a European immigration debate. Just a week ago, it was bulging with 629 migrants rescued from the Mediterranean Sea. But after Spain's new Socialist Government offered a safe port, many were transferred to this Italian coast guard vessel and an Italian navy ship.

FATIMA CABELLO RED CROSS NURSE "The migrants are arriving in good spirits. Of course, they are tired now after more than a week in the boats."

They're from 25 countries, mainly sub-Saharan Africa. Mostly men, but also a hundred minors without their parents. Some 80 women, 7 of whom are pregnant. Spanish medical and aid workers and the police met them at the port to provide immediate care and check their status.

Many would later come to this Red Cross staging area, shown to reporters beforehand, officials said, to protect the privacy of migrants upon arrival.

But their future in Europe is hardly a private discussion. The Continent is divided over how many immigrants to accept from poorer countries. They came to Spain only after Italy's far-right Interior Minister refused them entry. Malta also declined.

ELHADJ AS SY, SECRETARY GENERAL INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS FOUNDATION "In moments like this it is important to have a principled humanitarian action like Spain did for people in need when others were rejecting them."

France offered to take some of these migrants who want to go there, and many Spanish regions and cities offered shelter. While Austria and Germany debated immigration.

This man has conducted migrant rescues from the Aquarius and is in the non-governmental group operating the ship.

TILL RUMMENHOHL SOS MEDITERRANEE NGO "This shows that there is no real clue on how to deal with this migration. This shows also there are many capacities pulled away from search and rescue."

While the Aquarius sailed for five days with migrants to Spain.

AL GOODMAN, VALENCIA, SPAIN "The debate over these migrants also has the Spanish government thinking it might remove razor wire at the top of fences protecting two Spanish cities on Morocco's north coast, which many migrants have injured themselves on, trying to get up and over, into European territory."

A reflection on protecting Europe's borders. A likely topic at the European Union summit later this month. With an uncertain outcome. Al Goodman, CGTN, Valencia, Spain.