A migrant carries her baby as she disembarks from the German NGO migrant rescue ship Sea-Watch 3 on the island of Sicily. Reuters
A migrant carries her baby as she disembarks from the German NGO migrant rescue ship Sea-Watch 3 on the island of Sicily. Reuters
A migrant carries her baby as she disembarks from the German NGO migrant rescue ship Sea-Watch 3 on the island of Sicily. Reuters
A migrant carries her baby as she disembarks from the German NGO migrant rescue ship Sea-Watch 3 on the island of Sicily. Reuters

Rescuers accuse EU of letting hundreds of migrants drown in Mediterranean


Paul Peachey
  • English
  • Arabic

Hundreds of migrants have been allowed to land in Italy after days of waiting on board rescue ships in the latest sign of Europe’s efforts to stop the mass movement of people from North Africa.

Two vessels run by German and Italian charities arrived at ports on the Italian island of Sicily after repeated requests to dock to provide relief to about 800 people rescued in a series of operations in the Mediterranean Sea.

More than 1,100 people have died attempting to cross to Europe by boat since the start of 2021, more than double the number during same period last year. Migrant charities and the UN say the toll can be linked partly to the lack of search-and-rescue operations from EU states.

Migrants prepare to disembark the search-and-rescue ship 'Ocean Viking', run by the SOS Mediterranee NGO, in Pozzallo, Sicily. EPA
Migrants prepare to disembark the search-and-rescue ship 'Ocean Viking', run by the SOS Mediterranee NGO, in Pozzallo, Sicily. EPA

The latest rescues come with at least four charity-run boats patrolling the area, significantly higher than in previous months. Operations have been hit badly by the impounding of boats by Italian authorities for what they are say are technical and safety breaches.

Aid workers say the policy is politically motivated and designed to restrict their ability to operate and discourage migrants from travelling.

After five separate rescue of groups crammed into in dangerously overloaded boats, the German-operated ship Sea-Watch 3 arrived on Saturday at the Sicilian port of Trapani with 257 migrants on board, including 70 children. Officials from the charity said they had made more than seven requests for a port of safety.

The Norwegian-flagged Ocean Viking, operated by a European network of campaigners, arrived on Sunday at the port of Pozzallo with more than 550 rescued people on board, including pregnant women and more than 100 children.

Sea-Watch 3 was not allowed to dock in Italy for more than a week and the humanitarian group said no state responded to its requests to help with boats in distress. Seven people had to be taken off the Sea-Watch 3 before it docked because of medical emergencies.

The Sea Watch organisation said turmoil in North Africa, including in Tunisia where president Kais Saied suspended Parliament, and good weather were encouraging more people to attempt the crossing.

“It’s lucky that we have so many [ships] at the moment,” spokeswoman Mattea Weihe said. The Sea Watch organisation has two vessels – one currently impounded – and two spotter aircraft.

“We have seen times where there have been no ships for two or three weeks. We had a weekend in May where the aircraft spotted 11 or 12 boats and there was no rescue ship out there,” she said.

“It’s a strategy by the European Union to allow the situation to remain so bad so it becomes a deterrent to other migrants. They willingly letting people drown or be in distress.”

The UN’s International Organisation for Migration has called on European states to increase search-and-rescue efforts.

About 900 people died trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean while 250 died trying to reach Spain’s Canary Islands from West Africa. It said that deaths were probably “far higher” with many shipwrecks going unspotted.

UN data showed more people were being intercepted or rescued by North African coastguard operations, including more than 15,000 who were returned to Libya.

Crew members carry a migrant on a stretcher to the ship hospital after he was taken ill on the German NGO migrant rescue ship Sea-Watch 3. Reuters
Crew members carry a migrant on a stretcher to the ship hospital after he was taken ill on the German NGO migrant rescue ship Sea-Watch 3. Reuters

“This is concerning given that migrants who are returned to Libya are subjected to arbitrary detention, extortion, disappearances and torture,” the UN said.

UN figures show the highest numbers of people who arrive by land and sea are from Bangladesh, followed by Tunisia and then Syria.

Nello Musumeci, the right-wing president of Sicily, called for the national government of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi to announce a state of emergency to deal with the issue, and push for Europe to accept more of the new arrivals.

He said the strong gesture would “send a clear message to those in Brussels who do anything to avoid clear responsibilities”.

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

The Penguin

Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz

Creator: Lauren LeFranc

Rating: 4/5

History's medical milestones

1799 - First small pox vaccine administered

1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery

1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases

1895 - Discovery of x-rays

1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time

1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

1953 - Structure of DNA discovered

1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place 

1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill

1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.

1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

6.30pm Meydan Classic Trial US$100,000 (Turf) 1,400m

Winner Bella Fever, Dane O’Neill (jockey), Mike de Kock (trainer).

7.05pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner Woven, Harry Bentley, David Simcock.

7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

Winner Fore Left, William Buick, Doug O’Neill.

8.15pm Dubai Sprint Listed Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,200m

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8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group Two $450,000 (D) 1,900m

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9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,800m

Winner Art Du Val, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

10pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner Beyond Reason, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

While you're here
UAE-based players

Goodlands Riders: Jamshaid Butt, Ali Abid, JD Mahesh, Vibhor Shahi, Faizan Asif, Nadeem Rahim

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%3Cp%3E%0DIf%20Catherine%20Richards%20debuts%20for%20Wales%20in%20the%20Six%20Nations%2C%20she%20will%20be%20the%20latest%20to%20have%20made%20it%20from%20the%20UAE%20to%20the%20top%20tier%20of%20the%20international%20game%20in%20the%20oval%20ball%20codes.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESeren%20Gough-Walters%20(Wales%20rugby%20league)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBorn%20in%20Dubai%2C%20raised%20in%20Sharjah%2C%20and%20once%20an%20immigration%20officer%20at%20the%20British%20Embassy%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20she%20debuted%20for%20Wales%20in%20rugby%20league%20in%202021.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESophie%20Shams%20(England%20sevens)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EWith%20an%20Emirati%20father%20and%20English%20mother%2C%20Shams%20excelled%20at%20rugby%20at%20school%20in%20Dubai%2C%20and%20went%20on%20to%20represent%20England%20on%20the%20sevens%20circuit.%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFiona%20Reidy%20(Ireland)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMade%20her%20Test%20rugby%20bow%20for%20Ireland%20against%20England%20in%202015%2C%20having%20played%20for%20four%20years%20in%20the%20capital%20with%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20previously.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5

Results

5.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Al Battar, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer).

6.05pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Good Fighter, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

6.40pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Way Of Wisdom, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

7.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Immortalised, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

7.50pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Franz Kafka, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.

8.25pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Mayadeen, Connor Beasley, Doug Watson.

9pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Chiefdom, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

Updated: August 09, 2021, 11:49 AM`