Status: 11/10/2022 1:51 p.m
The “Ocean Viking” with 234 migrants on board is on its way to Toulon in southern France – after Italy refused to allow the rescue ship to enter. France and Germany want to take in most of the migrants.
The sea rescue ship “Ocean Viking” with 234 migrants on board is on its way to France. The ship is expected on Friday morning in the military port of the southern French city of Toulon, announced France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. Germany has agreed to take in a third of the refugees. France will also take on a third of the passengers. Other EU countries are also considering accepting migrants from the SOS Méditerranée ship.
Darmanin also announced that France wanted to suspend the originally planned admission of 3,500 migrants currently in Italy. The French government had announced shortly before that several sick people would be taken aboard the “Ocean Viking” and taken to a hospital.
Darmanin accuses Italy of breaking international rules
Darmanin condemned the behavior of Italy, which, contrary to international rules, refused to allow the ship to enter an Italian port. Rome’s actions put a strain on the relationship between the two countries. In view of the humanitarian emergency on the ship, which has been at sea with the refugees for two weeks, France has exceptionally decided to take the ship on board.
In view of the dispute, the EU Commission had pointed out that governments were legally obliged to help shipwrecked people.
Ocean Viking en route to Toulon – France takes in boat people
Sabine Wachs, ARD Paris, November 10, 2022 1:53 p.m