Migrant rescue ship docks in Spain again after Italy refusal
The white ship belonging to Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms arrived in the southern port of San Roque, just over the bay from Gibraltar, at 9:20am (0720 GMT).
The migrants, nearly all from Sudan including Darfur, had spent 50 hours at sea on board an inflatable boat, without drinking water, and many suffered burns from a mixture of fuel and salt water before they were rescued on August 2.
There were 75 men and 12 boys.
The NGO says many of them were "repeatedly abused in Libya."
ADVERTISEMENT
San Roque is where Spain hastily opened a new migrant reception centre as hundreds of migrants make the perilous sea crossing to the southern coast of Andalusia every week.
Faced with a crackdown by Libyan authorities and Italy's hardline approach to the arrival of migrants, Spain has now become the main destination for those trying to get to Europe from Africa.
More than 23,700 people have arrived in Spain by sea so far this year with 307 dying in the attempt, according to the International Organization for Migration -- more than during all of last year.
The country's new Socialist government has also allowed the docking of three NGO rescue ships since June after Italy and Malta refused access.
In June, the French NGO Aquarius ship, which had picked up 630 stranded migrants off Libya, was allowed to dock in Spain's eastern port of Valencia.
ADVERTISEMENT
Then on July 4, Proactiva Open Arms' ship docked in Barcelona with 60 migrants.
This time round though, the Spanish government has said the 87 migrants who have arrived in San Roque will be treated in the same way as the hundreds who arrive every week on Spanish shores.
When the Aquarius docked, Madrid had given each migrant a 45-day residency permit for humanitarian reasons.
Those brought back to Barcelona had also been given special treatment.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
Recommended articles
Nigerian Army hands over rescued Chibok girl, 3 children to Borno govt
Rivers crisis: Wike under fire for allegedly violating Tinubu's order
Pro-democratic group reacts to Jumbo's emergence as Rivers speaker
Nigerians condemn content creator’s ‘24-hour buried alive challenge’
Senate approves death penalty for drug traffickers
Ondo assembly warns petroleum marketers against fuel hoarding, price hikes
Rivers crisis: Fresh twist as APC group disagrees with Gov Fubara's impeachment call
Reps urge Tinubu to pay withheld salaries of ASUU, NASU, ensure full payment
Lagos Govt retrieves ₦478.13m, 18 properties from fraudulent agents in 4 years
Pulse Sports
There's Only One Winner - Arsenal's Bukayo Saka gives verdict on Nigerian and British food, namechecks Burna Boy
Onome Ebi: Super Falcons captain put curves on display to celebrate 41st birthday
‘You can't find another Osimhen in Europe’ — Former Juventus and AC Milan star warns Napoli can not replace Nigerian striker
DAVID AND VICTORIA BECKHAM: How the global soccer superstar and the Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer make and spend their millions
Chelsea set to offer Romelu Lukaku and cash for Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen
Mikel Obi: Super Eagles legend goes viral speaking Hausa
ADVERTISEMENT
![33 passengers and one crew member died on the dive boat, Conception [Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/AP]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'300'%20height%3D'172'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "33 passengers and one crew member died on the dive boat, Conception [Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/AP]")