Tita Tazrar, one of the five Eritrean survivors who landed in Lampedusa on Friday, was very evasive when she was asked whether it was true that the survivors refused to be rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta, the Corriere della Sera is reporting.
When rescued by the Guardia di Finanza, the five migrants were in a weak state and claimed that another 73 had died on the way.
The incident sparked another controversy between Malta and Italy as Italian media are reporting that a Sicilian Magisterial inquiry is contemplating a criminal case against the crew of an AFM patrol boat who assisted the migrants last Wednesday. The inquiry is trying to establish whether or not the AFM patrol boat intercepted the rubbery dinghy in the Maltese search and rescue area. The AFM is claiming that the dinghy was in Libyan SAR.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini is insisting that Malta should give up some of its search and rescue area.
Halligam Tissfaraly, 24, another survivor, and Ms Tazrar, 27, were transferred to Cervello hospital in Palermo, yesterday evening. The two had been found to be in a critical condition when the Guardia di Finanza had taken the rubber dinghy on which they were on board, to Lampedusa. The other three, including two minors, left Lampedusa this morning, and were transferred to Porto Empedocle. The two minors will be joining a ‘protected community’, whereas the other man will be living at a reception centre.
Tita Tazrar told Corriere della Sera that among those who lost their lives were three pregnant women. She explained how the women lost their babies as a result of starvation, thirst and the strenuous voyage. “They were the ones to suffer hardship most. We didn’t know how to help them. They died soon after they lost their babies,” she told Corriere della Sera. Ms Tazrar who isn’t married and doesn’t have children, said that on board the rubber dinghy were 78 immigrants in total, mostly Eritreans but also Ethiopians and Nigerians.
Ms Tazrar said that she will be seeking protection by applying for a political refugee status. Italian media are reporting that all of the survivors will be applying for such status.
Asked whether the status will be granted, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said that each case will be assessed individually. He called on the EU to show solidarity with the countries that are facing difficulties with illegal immigration. “The EU is all words and no action,” he said, referring to the phenomenon. He emphasised that all 27 member states should shoulder the burden since the “problem is not Malta’s, Italy’s or Greece’s”.