Mission Lifeline, whose migrant rescue ship is continuing to drift between Malta and Lampedusa, had invited Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini to visit the vessel.

"We have no meat on board, but humans. We cordially invite you to convince yourself that it is people we have saved from drowning. Come here, you are welcome!" the NGO said after the Italian minister said the ships were carrying meat that makes money. 

The ship has been banned from entering Italian and Maltese harbours. Malta  has agreed with Italy that the ship's captain ignored orders when told that the 239 migrants on board should have been picked by the Libyan coastguard. It also argues that the migrants should have been taken to Libya or Italy, since the rescue took place between Libya and Lampedusa. 

Salvini has vowed to ban all NGO rescue ships from Italian ports.

The Armed Forces of Malta delivered food to the ship on Saturday night.

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