Standoff Ends as Italian Government Allows Migrants to Disembark Rescue Ships

Migrants remain on ship after being denied entry to Italy. Photo: SOS Humanity

On Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, the Italian government finally let two ships of migrants disembark in Rome: the Humanity 1, run by the charity SOS Humanity, and the Geo Barents, run by Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF). The migrant ships consisted almost entirely of men that were refused entry into Italy because they were deemed “healthy,” and did not need medical attention. According to these groups, there are 35 men on Humanity 1 and 215 men aboard Geo Barents. A third boat, the German-owned Rise Above ship carrying 93 passengers was sent to France after their government said they would accept the migrants.  

The Italian government’s perception of health, however, could not have been further from the truth. SOS Humanity and MSF have explained that there was very little food and medical resources left on the boats, and that the cramped and dirty conditions have led to cases of scabies and other infections. In addition, they say that the mental health of the migrants on board is declining rapidly, with more of the migrants starting to experience anxiety attacks. 

On Nov. 8, 2022, all of these conditions are what supposedly led to three of the migrants jumping off of the Geo Barents. These three men landed in the water, and then were promptly taken into custody by the Italian government, as advocacy groups are not sure what will happen to them. 

Immigration has been an issue that the Italian government has been facing for some time now. Immigrants from North Africa are leaving in boats that are not strong enough to make the journey, so they are being rescued by charity groups that have larger boats. Both Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi have both said that they do not want to allow as many migrants into Italy as the country had permitted in the past, thus justifying keeping the migrants from disembarking the ships. Prime Minister Meloni even adressed the issue in her first speech to Parliament as Prime Minister, saying that Italy “must stop illegal departures and human trafficking.” The two ships have German and Norwegian flags on them, so Italy was asking the charities to send the boats there. 

Migrants handed life jackets by rescue groups. Photo: Camille Martin Juan/Sos Mediterranee/Handout via REUTERS

The United Nations (UN) had to step in, declaring that Italy must let the people off of the boats as soon as possible, as they are in violation of UN decrees on migration and refugees. In addition, the same charity groups that rescued the migrants were threatening legal action in Italian courts if the government did not let the men disembark. Now that they have let the passengers off of the boats, it is unclear whether the groups will still pursue legal recourse for the hardships faced by the migrants, as well as the help that the advocacy groups had to give. 

Even though Italy eventually caved to international pressure, there were numerous human rights violations that occurred while the migrants were waiting. Furthermore, the opinion of the new Italian government in the eyes of the UN -- as well as France, who agreed to help, but was very disappointed in Italy’s failure to act -- may mean that Meloni’s legitimacy within Europe may not last.