183 survivors rescued by Humanity1 crew may go ashore in Livorno today

The 183 survivors rescued by Humanity1 crew may go ashore in Livorno, northern Italy today, SOS Humanity International said.

The NGO in a statement said: “Firm ground under their feet at last! 183 survivors who were rescued by the crew of #Humanity1 from four boats in distress on 27 and 28 May could go ashore in #Livorno in northern Italy today.

“It was one of our most difficult missions. In the third rescue, a baby just a few months old could only be recovered dead. The mother was in a state of severe shock and had to be evacuated to Lampedusa together with the body and her older child after the rescue.
.“What happened on the 28th of May is something that nobody should have to experience,” explains our medical team on board. “If this mother had the option of safe passage to seek protection, maybe her baby would not have died.”

The recovery of the dead child was an extremely distressing experience for everyone. Nevertheless, the request for a closer port was denied. Completely absurd: some survivors are now to be taken back to southern Italy after arriving in Livorno, according to media reports.

We wish all survivors the very best and hope that they receive the protection and care to which they are entitled under international law. We further call on Italy and the EU to finally put an end to their deadly policy of closed doors & any obstruction of rescue operations.