Migrant rescue ships operating in the Mediterranean Sea have been blocked from carrying out their work as their crews are ordered to stay in port by the Italian coastguard. Rescued migrants disembark during their arrival in Senglea, in Valletta's Grand Harbour, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues, Malta July 27, 2020. Similarly, the Sea Watch vessel operated by Sea-Watch International was put under administrative block on July 9 by the Italian coastguard. “The Italian authorities are once again using a technical inspection as an excuse to block rescue ships,” the organisation said in a tweet. Ships regularly have to be disinfected and quarantined to ensure that the disease is not spread between the crew, rescued migrants and local people.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 28, 2020 15:21 UTC