An international charity, known as Doctors Without Borders, has announced that it will no longer use its rescue boat in the Mediterranean Sea due to new Italian laws that have made it impossible to continue its operations.
The charity, also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), has been utilizing the Geo Barents vessel since June 2021 for various rescue missions.
Last year, Sky News witnessed the crew saving over 600 individuals who were packed onto an old fishing boat.
This significant rescue brought attention to the dangerous migration routes and sparked discussions among politicians in the UK and across the EU.
A young injured man pictured last year being lifted onto the vessel with a sling
The lower decks of the Geo Barents packed with more than 600 people following a rescue in 2023
The Mediterranean Sea poses the most hazardous migrant route worldwide.
The Geo Barents has successfully rescued a total of 12,675 individuals across 190 operations. Additionally, it has recovered 24 bodies and aided in a birth onboard the vessel.
However, MSF cited changes in Italian legislation as the reason for ceasing operations, stating that the new laws make it impractical to run large rescue vessels.
The updated rules limit the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in rescue missions, including the requirement for immediate return to port after each rescue operation, no matter the number of people saved.
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<pCharities argue that vessels like Geo Barents, capable of accommodating around 600 individuals, should not be required to return if they have only conducted a small rescue.
Furthermore, there is an ongoing disagreement among NGOs regarding the choice of port for disembarking rescued migrants in Italy.
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<pInstead of docking at the closest port, NGO ships are often directed to travel long distances to distant ports.
<pIn our observations onboard the Geo Barents, we witnessed the vessel, filled to capacity with people, being instructed to bypass several ports to reach Bari.
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<pThe Italian government has imposed multiple penalties on the Geo Barents for violating regulations, resulting in the vessel being detained in port for 160 days. MSF has also been fined for noncompliance.
Italian officials have accused rescue charities of incentivizing migrants to attempt the journey to Italy, believing they will be rescued if in trouble.
Giorgia Meloni vowed a stricter stance on irregular migration when elected prime minister two years ago, implementing measures to reduce migrant rights upon arrival in Italy.
A deal has been struck allowing for migrants to be transferred to Albania during the processing of their claims.
Ms. Meloni claims Italy is setting an example for other countries facing migration challenges.
<pMSF stated they will return for further search and rescue missions in the region as soon as possible but emphasized the difficulty in continuing operations with the Geo Barents.