Italy Orders Rescued Migrants to Quarantine on Offshore Vessel

Italy has directed that a group of migrants and refugees rescued in the Mediterranean be transferred to a separate vessel for quarantine and coronavirus testing before being allowed to disembark.

The Alan Kurdi, operated by the German humanitarian organization Sea-Eye, is currently anchored in international waters off Sicily’s western coast. The ship rescued 150 people from distress off the coast of Libya last Monday.

In a statement released Sunday, Italy’s Transport Ministry said health authorities would examine the migrants after their transfer to a designated quarantine ship.

Last week, the Italian government closed its ports to NGO-operated rescue ships for the entire duration of the national COVID-19 emergency, a restriction expected to remain in place until July 31. Officials said that permitting unscreened arrivals would place additional strain on Sicily’s overstretched healthcare system. The ministry did not provide details regarding when or where the transfer would occur.

Mounting Tensions Across the Central Mediterranean

The decision follows reports from Libya, which on Thursday refused to allow entry to 280 migrants intercepted by its coastguard as they attempted to reach Europe.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) described the situation as “tragic” and urged the adoption of a coordinated approach to managing migration in the central Mediterranean.

“The status quo cannot possibly continue,” said Federico Soda, an IOM official.

Libya remains a major departure point for African migrants seeking to reach Europe. The IOM estimates that nearly 700,000 refugees and migrants are currently in the war-torn country.

Since 2015, more than 16,700 people have died attempting the Mediterranean crossing — including at least 241 this year. In recent days alone, over 500 migrants have departed from Libya in hopes of reaching European shores.

Among them, 67 migrants arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa and were placed under a two-week quarantine due to COVID-19 precautions. Meanwhile, about 70 others have been stranded for days in Maltese territorial waters, awaiting rescue.

“The people on board tell us they are without water. The pregnant woman is exhausted, the child is crying, thirsty. If you won’t save us, at least give us water,” said Alarm Phone, a hotline for migrants in distress, in a Saturday statement.
“In the central Mediterranean, a dangerous rescue gap is actively being created.”

Malta Under Pressure

On Friday, the Maltese Armed Forces rescued 64 migrants from a capsizing boat and brought them ashore, despite the government’s earlier declaration that it would no longer allow disembarkations during the pandemic.

The Maltese government cited limited resources, stating that it could not guarantee further rescues due to the strain caused by COVID-19.

In response, 13 NGOs working with migrants and refugees issued a joint statement expressing outrage:

“It is unacceptable for Malta to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to abandon its human rights obligations and endanger the lives of men, women, and children.”

The organizations urged Malta to uphold its search and rescue responsibilities and to act with solidarity and compassion despite the national health crisis.

“Migrants must not be sacrificed for the nation’s well-being,” the statement continued. “Emergencies should be met with unity, not exclusion.”