A rescue ship carrying hundreds of African migrants that failed to secure the permit to dock on Italian shores is expected to arrive in Spain on Sunday.
Aquarius, a former German Coast Guard ship now being used for humanitarian rescues has rerouted on its way to Spain this week after bad weather.
629 migrants including women cradle babies, kids on board, the crew and the rescue team have opted to head to Spain after the government of Spain announced that it would allow the ship to dock at its port.
According to Spain authorities, the Aquarius will arrive at Spain’s eastern port of Valencia on Sunday where the migrants will disembark.
Seven pregnant women and 100 unaccompanied children are also on the boat that has been rerouted.
Italy’s refusal to accept the ship marked the first major anti-migrant move since far-right interior minister Matteo Salvini took office in June.
He had ran in the country’s general election in 2018 promising to crack down on illegal immigration.
The UN says nearly 800 people have died or disappeared trying to cross the Mediterranean to get to Europe this year. EU leaders are set to discuss asylum rules at a summit at the end of this month.
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