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UN: People Rescued at Sea Must Not Be Used as Political Hostages

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The U.N. refugee agency is repeating its appeal
   to European nations to allow the immediate disembarkation of people
   stranded aboard the rescue vessel Open Arms, as conditions on the ship
   rapidly deteriorate. In a rare concession, Italy's right wing interior
   minister, Matteo Salvini, allowed 27 unaccompanied minors to be
   evacuated from the vessel in the port of Lampedusa Saturday. A further
   nine were allowed to leave Monday evening for urgent medical reasons.

   But that leaves 98 refugees and migrants trapped on board the Spanish
   NGO rescue vessel, Open Arms.

   U.N. refugee spokesman Andrej Mahecic said conditions have become
   intolerable on the ship, which has been stranded at sea for 18 days.

   "For those who are on board, there remains significant humanitarian
   needs, particularly psycho-social support that is needed, that cannot
   be met on the vessel itself. Many of the rescued people have suffered
   horrific abuses during many months in Libya," he said.

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