Page 8 - aruba-today-20190810

A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 10 auguSt 2019

Ship carrying migrants stranded while waiting for safe port

By COLLEEN BARRY tarella signed the decree
RENATA BRITO Thursday with reservations.
Associated Press He noted that the steep
MILAN (AP) — A Spanish hu- fine is to be applied with-
manitarian ship has been out regard for the scale of
stuck in the Mediterranean the offense, against a high
Sea for more than a week court ruling on penal sanc-
because no European tions. By that interpretation,
government will offer safe for example, a sailboat car-
harbor to the 121 migrants rying one migrant would
on board, and the vessel face the same penalty as
faces a fine of up to 1 mil- a ship with dozens or more.
lion euros if it enters Italian The security decree was
waters. already in the works when
The Open Arms was idle for German Capt. Carola
an eighth day Friday in wa- Rackete defied Salvini and
ters off Italy’s southernmost entered an Italian port
island. The ship’s dilemma against orders of authori-
is becoming increasingly ties, citing a state of ne-
common as European gov- cessity after 17 days stuck
ernments shut their doors at sea with 40 rescued mi-
to migrants, led by Italy’s grants. She is under two in-
firebrand Interior Minister vestigations, one for enter-
Matteo Salvini, who is pop- ing Italian waters against
ular for his hardline stance direct orders and another
against migrant arrivals and Migrants are seen aboard the Open Arms Spanish humanitarian boat as it cruises in the for allegedly aiding illegal
who this week plunged Ita- Mediterranean Sea, Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. immigrations.
ly into a political crisis in an Associated Press Besides Open Arms, just
apparent play for power. closest safe port, the hu- pian twins. since Italy’s populist gov- one other ship is operating
Open Arms founder Oscar manitarian group said. “The most important thing ernment took office and in the Mediterranean. The
Camps indicated that the The EU Commission said for these people here is to Salvini became interior min- German NGO Sea-Eye said
vessel would avoid enter- Friday that it has not re- be able to get to a free ister. He blames the EU and Friday it was leaving the
ing Italian waters without ceived any requests from port, to get off the boat, other member states for search-and-rescue zone
permission unless there is a national government to to get on land and start a leaving Italy alone to man- five days after transferring
a humanitarian crisis on intervene, as it typically re- new life,” Gere said, urging age migrant arrivals for too 40 migrants to Malta mili-
board, as allowed by inter- quires. But spokeswoman the world to “please sup- long. He likens rescue ships tary ships after Germany
national maritime law. Annika Breidhardt said the port us here on Open Arms to migrant taxi services and made a direct request and
“Salvini can say what he commission was reaching and help these people, our raised the stakes this week agreed to take some of
wants, but maritime law out to member states “to brothers and sisters.” by winning parliamentary the migrants. A Norwegian-
and the courts will say what show solidarity.” She noted Pope Francis, long a cham- approval for a new secu- flagged ship operated by
they have to say,” Camps a solution depended on pion of the migrants, re- rity decree that increased the humanitarian group
told Catalunya Radio on “the willingness” of mem- peated in an interview with fines on ships entering Ital- Doctors Without Borders
Wednesday. “If we have ber states to step up. the Italian daily La Stampa ian waters without permis- rescued 85 migrants from a
serious health problems on In a bid to draw attention that the treatment of mi- sion to 1 million euros from rubber dinghy off Libya on
board ... we will enter (port) to the standoff, Richard grants “must never leave 50,000 euros. The law has Friday — but made no im-
here or wherever we are, Gere boarded the ship Fri- out the most important been scorned by the U.N. mediate request for a port.
the closest place, today day some 27 nautical miles right of all: that of life.” refugee agency, which Others that have been ac-
and any other day be- off Lampedusa. The ac- “Immigrants arrive mostly says it could deter rescue tive in the central Medi-
cause we are backed by tor helped bring food and to flee war or hunger, from by private vessels at a mo- terranean appear to be
law.” supplies to the boat and the Middle East to Africa,” ment when European gov- on standby waiting to see
Malta also refused to let asked for support for the he said. ernment have largely halt- how the latest standoffs —
the ship in, while Spain de- ship, whose passengers in- Such standoffs have persist- ed their patrols. and Salvini’s threat — play
murred, saying it is not the clude 9-month-old Ethio- ed over the last 14 months Italian President Sergio Mat- out.q

Notre Dame cleanup to resume Aug.

19 amid tighter safety

Associated Press hazardous substances from polluting elements to the
PARIS (AP) — Paris regional the fire-ravaged cathedral outside.”
authorities say decontami- last month under pressure Hundreds of tons of lead
nation and cleanup work from labor inspectors con- in Notre Dame’s spire and
at Notre Dame cathedral cerned about health risks roof melted during the April
will resume on Aug. 19 after for workers. fire.
new equipment and stricter Paris authorities said Friday This week, workers have
safety procedures ensure new equipment, including started decontaminat-
workers are not exposed to decontamination units, will ing some Paris schools as
A worker sprays an adhesive product on the ground to gather unsafe levels of lead. be operational by the end part of efforts to protect
up the lead particles in the school yard of Saint Benoit primary The administration suspend- of next week. They said this children from risks of lead
school in Paris, France, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019.
Associated Press ed the job of removing will prevent “any release of poisoning.q