For hundreds of people looking for protection aboard the rescue ship Open Arms, the waiting time is over. The ship has entered the port of Pozzallo, Sicily. Malta had previously refused to accept refugees.
The 363 migrants rescued by the Open Arms were able to step on Italian soil, as reported by the Spanish aid organization Proactiva Open Arms on Twitter. Earlier, after a few days of waiting, the Italian government gave permission to enter the Sicilian port city of Pozzallo.
The people saved off the coast of Libya came from many countries, including Bangladesh and Sudan. They were rescued in a total of five rescue operations. Malta has repeatedly refused to grant permission to moor the ship.