Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has responded to criticism over the death of more than 60 migrants off the coast of Calabria, stating that she did not receive any emergency communication from Frontex and that the Italian authorities could do nothing to save them. Meloni has lashed out at those who accuse the Italian Executive of having allowed the deaths of the migrants and has defended the fact that the country’s authorities were unable to save them. The far-right leader stressed that the best way to honor the victims is to prevent such an event from happening again and stressed that her government does give importance to the matter.
The boat wrecked with about 200 migrants on board off the coast of the Italian region of Calabria, in the south of the country, last Sunday. The Frontex plane alerted the operational section in the town of Crotone, but the terrible sea conditions forced the team to turn back, according to Italian authorities. Meloni has assured that there were no emergency indications from Frontex and that the route is not covered by NGOs, so it has nothing to do with government policies.
Meloni’s government has been criticized for the approval of a law on maritime rescue that provides for fines of up to 50,000 euros for those who provide humanitarian assistance and has been described as “worrying” by the United Nations. The new law makes it difficult for humanitarian organizations operating in the Mediterranean, as it stipulates that vessels have to come to port immediately after carrying out a rescue, forcing them to ignore emergencies that may arise in addition.