The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
69°F
Current Conditions
Clear sky
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Aid ship with 311 migrants ignored by Italy, heads to Spain

Migrants sit in a rubber dinghy after Proactiva Open Arms, a Spanish NGO, spotted and rescued them Friday, Dec. 21, 2018, in the Central Mediterranean Sea at 45 miles from Al Khums, Lybia. The Spanish NGO Open Arms have rescued about 300 migrants from 3 boats crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe on Friday. (Olmo Calvo / AP)
Associated Press

MADRID – Spain’s Foreign Ministry says it has given permission to an aid boat carrying 311 rescued migrants to set course for Spain after Italy and other Mediterranean countries did not answer its request to dock.

The boat belonging to the Spanish aid group Proactiva Open Arms saved 313 migrants Friday in waters near Libya. A baby and its mother were then evacuated from the boat.

Spain’s Foreign Ministry says Malta denied the aid boat permission to dock and the boat’s calls to Italy, France, Tunisia and Libya have gone unanswered.

The aid group says it now has permission to enter the Spanish port of Algeciras. On its Twitter account, Proactiva said “it will be many and difficult days sailing, but we have a safe port.”