As there was a boat in the Mediterranean for days left unattended, UN Refugee Chief Filippo Grandi says he feels Shameful as a European. PHOTO: REUTERS
GENEVA: Italy’s rejection of a migrant ship is shameful but the responsibility lies with Europe as a whole, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said.
“It is shameful as a European I felt shame, shame, that there was a boat, there is a boat, in the Mediterranean and for several days nobody wanted to take these people,” he said.
Migrants on stranded rescue ship head for Spain
“It’s very clear that Europe needs to reform its asylum system in a collective manner, there’s a lot of resistance to that but there’s no other way,” he added.
After Italy sent hundreds of refugees to Spain, who have been lurking for days in a small convoy. Waiting for Italy to open its port to the weary people that included pregnant women along with minors.
Flickering a war of words with France that exposed EU tensions over immigration.
Despite, the solid pressure from the international community. Malta refused to allow the refugees as well. This is where Spain stepped in for the rescue.
Spain’s new Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had offered the boat safe harbour, saying there was a moral “obligation to help to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe”.
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