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483 drown in the Mediterranean while rescue ships are trapped in port
On 10 June 2018 Italy’s new government closed its ports to NGO rescue ships operating in the Mediterranean Sea, leaving the humanitarian vessel Aquarius adrift with 639 migrants on board. Shortly after another NGO ship, Lifeline, was also turned away.
- Care4Calais
The two ships were finally allowed to dock in Malta following a tense agreement that the people on board would be relocated within the EU.
On 2 July, the Sea Watch-3, which was by then the only operating rescue boat still operating in the Mediterranean, was detained in Malta, alongside Lifeline, and not allowed to leave port.
While rescue ships…