UNHCR: ‘Priority is disembarkation of asylum seekers on board Salamis’

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed concern over an impasse that has left 102 people, reportedly of mainly Eritrean nationality, aboard the tanker M/T Salamis in the Mediterranean, after having been rescued from a dinghy that left from Libya.

The UNHCR called for a quick and practical solution to enable the safe and rapid disembarkation for the people rescued, including to determine international protection needs. The group on board comprises several vulnerable individuals, including a four-month-old infant.

"The current situation in Libya is well documented in recent reports, including as regards discrimination and abuse affecting people originating from sub-Saharan Africa. UNHCR considers that return of asylum-seekers to this situation is not an option," a spokesperson for the agency said.

"UNHCR welcomes the continued efforts of the Italian and Maltese authorities to rescue boats in distress in the Mediterranean and commends the shipmaster of M/V Salamis for saving lives at sea in line with obligations under international maritime law."

But the UNHCR said it was concerned that a "longstanding tradition" of saving lives at sea by vessels of all categories may be at risk because of contention between states as to where those rescued are disembarked.

"It should be a collective priority for all involved to ensure that asylum-seekers seeking protection are not exposed to further hardship as a result of disagreement on disembarkation."

The agency reiterated its global call to all shipmasters and to coastal countries "to carry out their duty of rescuing persons in distress at sea and to cooperate closely in enabling disembarkation."

"UNHCR stands ready to provide all possible support in this regard. UNHCR calls for active consideration of concrete responsibility sharing measures, and urges other European Union countries to strengthen solidarity with countries such as Malta at the EU's external border."

The agency said that the current deadlock demonstrated the need to develop a regional framework to strengthen cooperation and coordination among States and others implicated in rescue-at-sea operations.