(Reuters) Italy’s rightist government has approved measures to fine charities who rescue migrants at sea and impound their ships if they break a new, tougher set of rules — a move that one campaign group said could threaten lives.
A cabinet decree approved late on Wednesday, seen by Reuters, said these ships should request a port and sail to it “without delay” after a rescue, rather than remain at sea looking for other migrant boats in distress.
Currently the missions of charities, or non-governmental organisations (NGOs), in the central Mediterranean usually last several days, with charity boats completing different rescue operations and often taking hundreds of people onboard.
