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Mediterranean uncertainty placing lives of vulnerable migrant children at risk

Children, including some who are unaccompanied, are being endangered by uncertainty in the Mediterranean caused by the Aquarius incident, children’s rights organisation Terre des Hommes warned today.

Both Italy and Malta’s refusal to allow the boat, which carried 629 people rescued at sea, to dock in either country forced migrants aboard the Aquarius to spend two days floating in the ocean while their fates were decided. In closing and diverting migrants away from their borders, Italy and Malta have broken human rights law by pushing migrants back into danger rather than allowing them to enter the country.

Donatella Vergari, Secretary General of Terre des Hommes Italy, said:
“The confusion over who is supposed to be doing what in the Mediterranean, along with the demonization of NGOs rescuing people from the water, could result in serious loss of life and cannot be allowed to continue. The responsibilities, roles and duties of all involved in rescuing and caring for refugees need to be clarified and honoured immediately.”

“The children on board the Aquarius, many of whom are unaccompanied, are entitled to special protection under international law. The Italian and Maltese governments must not repeat their refusal to grant them this in future.”

The confusion caused by the Aquarius debacle emphasises how the EU’s migration and asylum policies must be reformed, with human rights and values placed at the centre of the Common European Asylum System, including the Dublin regulation. This must include allowing harbours to open for rescue boats, and providing safe, legal routes to Europe for people on the move.

Delphine Moralis, Secretary General of the Terre des Hommes International Federation, said:
“Responsibility for rescuing and caring for migrants who cross the Mediterranean must be shared among all EU Member States, with no countries turning their back on the plight of people rescued from the sea.”

“It is essential that the Aquarius scandal prompts the EU to put human values back at the heart of its approach to managing migrants, and offers people on the move the protection and solidarity they deserve.”

For more information:
For more information contact Paul Creeney on +32 (0) 465 946 509 or by email at paul.creeney@terredeshommes.org.

Notes to Editors

• 134 children, 123 of which are unaccompanied, and seven pregnant women were on board the Aquarius, putting the number of migrants on board the ship at 629.
• Most of those on board the Aquarius have now been transferred to Italian navy vessels and are sailing to Valencia. They are expected to arrive over the weekend.
• The Common European Asylum System (CEAS) sets the minimum standards by which all EU Member States must treat asylum seekers and their applications. The Dublin Regulation is included in the CEAS, and establishes which EU state is responsible for an asylum seeker’s application.