Malta's "inhumane" decision to turn away a migrant rescue vessel achieved "nothing but more human suffering and pain," three humanitarian NGOs have charged. 

"Malta could have done the right thing. Instead it chose to abandon the migrants and crew to their fates out at sea," aditus foundation, Integra Foundation and JRS Malta said in a statement. 

The three NGOs said they were appalled at the way both Italy and Malta had handled the Golfo Azzurro saga and accused both nations of "toying with the lives and security of people" while they argued out their diplomatic disagreements. 

The Golfo Azzurro spent more than three days stranded in international waters after both Italy and Malta refused to allow the vessel, which had three rescued migrants aboard, into their respective ports. 

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It was granted entry into Sicily this afternoon for "navigational safety" reasons, after reporting a technical problem with its engines. 

The Maltese government, through deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne, made it clear yesterday that it would not be allowing the vessel in because international maritime law placed the onus of disembarking the rescued persons on the nearest port of call, Lampedusa.  

In their statement, the three NGOs noted that Malta has repeatedly called for solidarity in dealing with migrant flows, and argued that the government had not practised what it preached.  

Malta could have shown solidarity with both Italy and the three migrants aboard, they said, but had chosen not to do so. 

"Solidarity is not a one-way street," the NGOs concluded, urging the government to "revisit its understanding of the principle, and to distance itself from a migration policy based on self-interest and disregard for human life".