Spain to take in NGO rescue ship carrying 59 migrants

Members of SOS Mediterranee NGO and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), bring medical supplies to the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms boat, from their Aquarius rescue vessel, on Jun 24, 2018 in open sea about 50 miles from Libya. (Photo: AFP/Pau Barrena)

The news comes a day after three babies were found dead and 100 more went missing in a shipwreck off Libya that Proactiva Open Arms, whose charity rescue boat was in the area, said could potentially have been avoided.

It also follows a controversial deal reached by EU member states to stem the arrival of migrants. The accord struck Friday includes the setting up of secure centres for migrants in the bloc, "disembarkation platforms" outside the bloc and sharing out refugees among member states.

The Spanish NGO said on Twitter that the 59 migrants were now on board their Open Arms ship "heading for a secure port".

"Despite the hurdles, we continue to protect the right to life of invisible people. Their stories on what they experienced (in) Libya are terrifying."

Reacting to the rescue, Italy's hardline Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Facebook: "The nearest port is Malta, the organisation and flag are Spanish: they can forget about coming to an Italian port."

Malta's interior minister retorted on Twitter that the migrants had been rescued between Libya and Italy's Lampedusa.

"Stop spreading incorrect information by pointing the finger at Malta without any reason," Michael Farrugia said.

In the end, the NGO said they had been given authorisation to dock in Barcelona, adding they would arrive on Wednesday.

Italy's new populist government and Malta earlier this month refused to let dock French NGO rescue ship Aquarius carrying 630 migrants. The move triggered an international outcry before Spain stepped in to help.

Malta then let another charity rescue boat, Lifeline, dock with 230 migrants aboard.

Proactiva Open Arms also accused coastguards in the area of hindering their work as countries such as Italy take a hardline stance against the arrival of migrants.

The NGO said Friday's shipwreck could potentially have been avoided as the official call for help from Italy's rescue control centre only came one hour after Open Arms overheard an EU plane warning Libyan coastguards that a migrant boat was in trouble.