The first of the 630 migrants rescued from the ship Aquarius, after a week of wandering in the Mediterranean, have arrived in the port of Valencia in Spain. `One of the ships of the Italian Coast Guard, the Datilo carrying a number of migrants entered the port at around 06.30 local time (07.30 Greek time).
The rest of the migrants are being transported by ship of the Italian navy, Orione and from Aquarius, a Franco-German non-governmental organization. The two ships are expected to have arrived in Spain around 12.00 local time (13.00 Cyprus time). For these 450 men, 80 women of whom seven were pregnant, 89 teenagers and 11 children under the age of 13 rescued from Aquarius and dreaming of a better life in Europe, arriving in Valencia marks the end of a long journey in during which they became the catalyst for the creation of new migration gaps in Europe.
A few days after the change of government, Italy said no to the entry of immigrants, as Malta did, with the result that Aquarius wandered in the Mediterranean for several days. Many of them are expected to go to France after their situation in Spain is examined, the Spanish government announced on Saturday at noon. Ambulances are in the port of Valencia to receive the migrants.
As a sign of solidarity, a banner has been set up saying "Welcome to your home" in various languages. After all, the adventure of these immigrants has provoked movements of support from the citizens. "People are offering their help for what they can: to become translators, to provide accommodation," said Johnson Tamayo, a 51-year-old artist and one of the many Red Cross volunteers. 2.320 people have been mobilized to welcome the immigrants, of which 1000 are volunteers and 470 translators. More than 600 journalists have been accredited to cover the event.
The solution to the impasse that was created when Italy and Malta refused to accept them was given by the socialist government of Pedro Sanchez, a few days after taking power. The Spanish Prime Minister announced that Spain is ready to accept immigrants. Many spoke of a humanitarian but also a political move on the part of Madrid, aimed at a common European response to the immigration crisis.
Italy's refusal and the statements of the new Minister of the Interior, Matteo Salvini, plunged Europe into a new crisis over the immigration issue and created diplomatic tension between France and Italy. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke of "cynicism and irresponsibility" on the part of the Italian government. Despite the escalation of tensions between French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, the Italian Interior Minister, who is also the leader of the far-right Northern League, insisted on his position, signing the ban on Saturday. NGOs.
The French Government's decision to accept a number of Aquarius immigrants was welcomed by Pedro Sanchez because, as he said, "it shows that it is part of the cooperation that Europe must show to give an answer in the spirit of European solidarity".
Once at the port, the Aquarius migrants will disembark in groups and after a medical examination their cases will be examined separately. "Every immigrant will find out" whether he has been granted refugee status, or whether he is considered an economic immigrant "but also whether he is" guilty of certain offenses that necessitate his deportation, "said a spokeswoman for the Spanish government.