EveryOne group: “The Italian authorities must intervene immediately and the UN High Commissioner must ensure that human rights and procedures are observed.”
Palermo, November 11th, 2009. Emergency in the Strait of Sicily. Two small boats crammed with about a hundred refugees launched a desperate appeal for help over their mobile phones on Monday afternoon (November 9th).
The refugees are being thrown around on high seas and are in danger of drowning. EveryOne Group is appealing for prompt intervention from the Italian authorities and asks the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to urge a speedy intervention, in order to ensure that correct sea rescue procedures are carried out and the refugees’ fundamental human rights respected.
“The Italian authorities could help them, “ EveryOne says, “ but they are doing nothing since the refugees are still in international waters. As on other occasions, the Italian Government refuses to give them the opportunity to apply for political asylum in Italy. If this attitude were to continue, we would find ourselves faced with one of the most serious violation of human rights and obligation to offer aid, a practice that has nothing to do with political convenience: it is a crime against humanity”.
