[Mhiz Rebecca]

At least 150 migrants who were not being allowed to
disembark from an Italian coastguard boat in Sicily
have started a hunger strike in protest.
According to Davide Faraone of the Democratic
Party, “I have just heard from the Port Authority that there
is tension aboard the #Diciotti ship and that migrants have
started a hunger strike. As a result, visits aboard to express
solidarity and verify conditions on the boat have been
suspended for security reasons”.
One hundred and ninety migrants were rescued more
than a week ago by the Diciotti on Monday. Thirteen
needing medical assistance were taken onshore while
the remaining 177 were taken to Catania. Under
pressure from humanitarian groups, Italy’s hardline
Interior Minister and Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini let
27 children disembark on Wednesday.
He said however that the remaining migrants would be
kept aboard until other European Union nations take
them in. It is the latest in a series of diplomatic spats
over boats picking up migrants trying to reach
European shores from northern Africa.