According to RaiNews24 broadcaster, local authorities are now giving health checks to the rescued migrants before they can come ashore. Most minors in the group, which includes, among others, 14 children under one year old, have come to Europe unaccompanied by adults, the broadcaster said.
The broadcaster noted that migrants, who were rescued in December, were on board of Sea-Watch ship for a week, waiting for the authorities to authorize the ship’s docking in the port.
On 29 December, another charity vessel, operated by Doctors Without Borders, brought 558 refugees rescued in the Mediterranean Sea from 17 December to 24 December to Sicily.
Since January, about 66,500 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea, according to the Italian Interior Ministry, compared to 34,000 a year earlier and 11,500 in 2019.