Italy rescues 1,200 people as AFM claim ‘no request’ was made

400 asylum seekers that were adrift in Malta’s extensive search and rescue area have been rescued by the Italian coast guard in the early hours of Tuesday. Italian authorities have rescued a total of around 1,200 people since yesterday.

Since Sunday, the NGOs Sea Watch International and Alarm Phone had urged the authorities to rescue the 400 asylum seekers in distress.

The NGOs reported adverse weather conditions with 1.5m high waves, and about four unconscious women while some passengers were “ready to jump overboard”.

Sea Watch International accused Malta of instructing a cargo ship to give fuel to a boat carrying 400 people instead of coordinating rescue.

The Armed Forces Malta (AFM) claimed they had not received a request for rescue, adding that the cargo ship’s captain who assisted the boat confirmed this in writing.

“Reports concerning migrants in Malta’s SRR are followed up immediately, and vessels which are not in distress are monitored accordingly. Moreover, written communication received by the AFM from the ship captain providing duty of care confirms that no rescue was requested by the people on board”, the AFM said.

Alarm Phone called the armed forces’ statement “absurd” and accused the AFM of lying and denying responsibility. It said it had sent 21 emails to Malta requesting a rescue operation.