The president of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Christos Christou, has accused Italy’s government of criminalizing humanitarian efforts aimed at rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean. His remarks follow the two-week detention of MSF’s rescue vessel, the Geo Barents, by Italian authorities, a situation that was temporarily resolved after an appeals court allowed the ship to return to the sea.

This ruling offers a rare moment of relief in the ongoing onslaught from the E.U. against vulnerable migrants, many of whom are victims of trafficking and forced labor, in dangerous conditions or return them to exploitation in Libya.

Humanitarian groups blocked in the Mediterranean

Italy’s actions are part of a broader strategy to obstruct rescues, as the government enforces laws that restrict search and rescue operations to a single rescue at a time. This approach, Christou argues, endangers lives by preventing NGOs from responding to multiple emergencies in quick succession.

The Geo Barents was detained after it responded to two separate distress calls on August 23, during which migrants were seen jumping into the sea without life vests.

KTEN news reports, 

Under Italy’s law, vessels operated by rescue charities are obliged to only perform one rescue at a time, a system the groups charge is inefficient and puts lives at risk.

Christou said that on August 23, having just completed a rescue and following instructions from Italian authorities to head to port, it witnessed another migrant boat in distress and went to help.

“People were jumping into the sea. They were there, helpless, without any life vests,” Christou said.

“We were trying to contact the Libyan coast guard again but there was no response. Looking at the people in the sea, in that moment the only thing you must do is to offer a hand and pull them out of the sea,” he said.

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