The last migrant rescue ship operating in the Mediterranean has been forced to terminate its life-saving work, the charities that run the vessel have announced.
Since 2016, the ship has rescued or assisted an estimated 30,000 migrants attempting to make the dangerous sea crossing to Europe from Libya and elsewhere.
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But last month Italian magistrates accused MSF of illegally dumping toxic waste at ports in southern Italy and ordered the seizure of the Aquarius - currently docked in the French port of Marseille. MSF’s Italian bank accounts have been frozen.
The charity denies the allegations and is appealing the seizure order.
MSF has also vowed to launch another search and rescue boat, Euronews reports.
“The Italian Government and their legal department are running a smear campaign against the Aquarius,” MSF Head of Emergencies Karline Kleijer told the news site.
Italian officials have claimed the ship was providing a “taxi service for illegal migrants”.
A total of 71,779 migrants and refugees are believed to have entered Europe by sea this year, of whom 20,250 landed in Italy. The country’s coalition government, led by the right-wing Northern League, has vowed to crack down on migrant arrivals.
“The Aquarius was at the heart of a diplomatic row in June when it became stranded with more than 600 migrants on board following a refusal by Italy and Malta to take it in,” reports France24.
At least 2,160 people have died attempting the sea crossing since the start of 2018, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) - and migrant advocates say the seizure of Aquarius means that number is likely to continue rising.
“This is a dark day. Not only has Europe failed to provided dedicated search and rescue capacity, it has also actively sabotaged others’ attempts to save lives,” Vickie Hawkins, head of MSF UK, said in a statement.