Why Italy has closed its ports to a migrant rescue ship

629 people stranded at sea after Italy says Malta should take them in

The MV Aquarius offloading rescued migrants in Italy on 10 May
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Italy has refused to let a humanitarian ship carrying more than 600 people rescued from the Mediterranean dock at its ports, saying Malta should open its port to the vessel.

The MV Aquarius, a search and rescue ship run in partnership between SOS Mediterranee and Medecins Sans Frontieres, has been told by Italian authorities to stand by in its current position, 35 nautical miles from Italy and 27 nautical miles from Malta.

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