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Malta demands EU solution before migrants disembark

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Malta is pushing other European countries to take in around 250 migrants currently in its care before it will allow dozens of people stuck on two rescue boats to disembark, a government source said Tuesday.

Some 49 migrants, rescued while attempting the dangerous Mediterranean crossing from North Africa to Europe, have been stranded off the coast of Malta on the Sea-Watch and another boat since December 22, with no country allowing them to dock.

The diplomatic deadlock among EU member states has not been resolved, despite an appeal by Pope Francis on Sunday for EU leaders to show solidarity.

But on Tuesday Malta appeared to raise the stakes still further.

A senior Malta government source said the island did not want a "short-term" solution for those stranded at sea but "a more comprehensive and holistic solution".

Resources on the island of 450,000 are being "stretched" by the migrants already in detention centres, the source said, requesting anonymity.

"Malta is looking at a solution that would see all rescued migrants redistributed among a number of countries that are willing to share the burden," the source said.

The Sea-Watch and the Sea-Eye are carrying a total of 49 migrants, including a baby and several children.

"It's day 18 for us being held hostage at sea by European governments," Sea-Watch tweeted on Tuesday.

"The situation is tense but at least everyone's eating again," the German NGO said the day after some of the 32 migrants aboard refused food.

A European diplomat said France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands and Portugal had said they were ready to take in some of the migrants.

Romania, which currently holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, agreed to take in five migrants.

But both Italy and Malta have repeatedly refused port access to the rescue vessels, and they have stuck to that position despite the pope's intervention.

- Plea for solidarity -

Volunteers on Tuesday brought drinking water, couscous, fruit and vegetables to the boats.

European Commission spokeswoman Margaritis Schinas said "intensive contacts" were under way between EU nations over the crisis.

"Member states need now to show concrete solidarity," Schinas said. "People on board need to be disembarked safely and without further delay."

The European diplomat said that EU countries had offered to receive more than the 49 people on the two boats, but not the nearly 300 migrants as demanded by Malta.

In the eastern Mediterranean, Cypriot authorities said they had picked up 31 Syrian migrants who had been dropped off by smugglers on a remote part of the island after arriving by boat.

The migrants, who are seeking asylum, were processed by police and transferred to a reception centre in the capital Nicosia.

The Syrians -- 27 men, three children and one woman -- told police that they had each paid $2,500-$3,000 (2,200-2,600 euros) in cash to be brought to Cyprus.

And a 24-year-old migrant from Cameroon died early Tuesday at a migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.

The cause of death was not yet known but aid groups and the UN refugee agency have for months highlighted unhealthy conditions at island's Moria camp.

Seven French aid groups including Doctors without Borders and Medecins du Monde released a joint appeal to the government there Tuesday.

"We are asking France to immediately get these survivors to shelter in a safe port," they said.

burs-cjo/jj/gd

Malta is pushing other European countries to take in around 250 migrants currently in its care before it will allow dozens of people stuck on two rescue boats to disembark, a government source said Tuesday.

Some 49 migrants, rescued while attempting the dangerous Mediterranean crossing from North Africa to Europe, have been stranded off the coast of Malta on the Sea-Watch and another boat since December 22, with no country allowing them to dock.

The diplomatic deadlock among EU member states has not been resolved, despite an appeal by Pope Francis on Sunday for EU leaders to show solidarity.

But on Tuesday Malta appeared to raise the stakes still further.

A senior Malta government source said the island did not want a “short-term” solution for those stranded at sea but “a more comprehensive and holistic solution”.

Resources on the island of 450,000 are being “stretched” by the migrants already in detention centres, the source said, requesting anonymity.

“Malta is looking at a solution that would see all rescued migrants redistributed among a number of countries that are willing to share the burden,” the source said.

The Sea-Watch and the Sea-Eye are carrying a total of 49 migrants, including a baby and several children.

“It’s day 18 for us being held hostage at sea by European governments,” Sea-Watch tweeted on Tuesday.

“The situation is tense but at least everyone’s eating again,” the German NGO said the day after some of the 32 migrants aboard refused food.

A European diplomat said France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands and Portugal had said they were ready to take in some of the migrants.

Romania, which currently holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, agreed to take in five migrants.

But both Italy and Malta have repeatedly refused port access to the rescue vessels, and they have stuck to that position despite the pope’s intervention.

– Plea for solidarity –

Volunteers on Tuesday brought drinking water, couscous, fruit and vegetables to the boats.

European Commission spokeswoman Margaritis Schinas said “intensive contacts” were under way between EU nations over the crisis.

“Member states need now to show concrete solidarity,” Schinas said. “People on board need to be disembarked safely and without further delay.”

The European diplomat said that EU countries had offered to receive more than the 49 people on the two boats, but not the nearly 300 migrants as demanded by Malta.

In the eastern Mediterranean, Cypriot authorities said they had picked up 31 Syrian migrants who had been dropped off by smugglers on a remote part of the island after arriving by boat.

The migrants, who are seeking asylum, were processed by police and transferred to a reception centre in the capital Nicosia.

The Syrians — 27 men, three children and one woman — told police that they had each paid $2,500-$3,000 (2,200-2,600 euros) in cash to be brought to Cyprus.

And a 24-year-old migrant from Cameroon died early Tuesday at a migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.

The cause of death was not yet known but aid groups and the UN refugee agency have for months highlighted unhealthy conditions at island’s Moria camp.

Seven French aid groups including Doctors without Borders and Medecins du Monde released a joint appeal to the government there Tuesday.

“We are asking France to immediately get these survivors to shelter in a safe port,” they said.

burs-cjo/jj/gd

AFP
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