TUESDAY September 12, 2023: 'ADRIFT IN A SEA OF RED TAPE' by photo-journalist Ximena Borrazas-SOPA: Migrants arriving on Italy's shores has doubled this year. Meanwhile Italy's new Prime Minister Meloni promised a firmer grasp on immigration. But her efforts have not slowed the arrivals. Forcing the government to ask for help from the very NGOs it has tried to stop in past. Yet, Rome's broad anti-migration law remains the same. A controversial rule passed in February prevents rescue ships from carrying out consecutive operations. Resulting in grounding boats at a time when the country is struggling to handle increasing arrivals could sound counterintuitive to some, but others say it reflects the ongoing dispute between the rightwing coalition government led by Meloni and the NGOs. For example: Rome recently asked NGO Open Arms to help them with rescue operations for six migrant vessels - a situation many organizations called paradoxical. Welcome to 'ADRIFT IN A SEA OF RED TAPE'
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #905: TUESDAY September 12, 2023: 'ADRIFT IN A SEA OF RED TAPE' by photo-journalist Ximena Borrazas-SOPA: Migrants arriving on Italy's shores has doubled this year. Meanwhile Italy's new Prime Minister Meloni promised a firmer grasp on immigration. But her efforts have not slowed the arrivals. Forcing the government to ask for help from the very NGOs it has tried to stop in past. Yet, Rome's broad anti-migration law remains the same. A controversial rule passed in February prevents rescue ships from carrying out consecutive operations. Resulting in grounding boats at a time when the country is struggling to handle increasing arrivals could sound counterintuitive to some, but others say it reflects the ongoing dispute between the rightwing coalition government led by Meloni and the NGOs. For example: Rome recently asked NGO Open Arms to help them with rescue operations for six migrant vessels - a situation many organizations called paradoxical. Welcome to 'ADRIFT IN A SEA OF RED TAPE'

Moving water is seen from the bow of the Spanish rescue vessel Aita Mari. The ship of the Basque NGO SMH departs on its first mission from the port of Vinaros.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

men stare nervously from a precarious metal boat carrying 40 migrants across the Mediterranean from Africa. At around 7:30 a.m, 44 miles off Lampedusa, 40 sub-Saharan migrants were rescued from a precarious metal boat.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A mother and her seven-month-old baby wait on the bow of a precarious boat to be rescued on 21 February 44.5 miles off Lampedusa. At around 7:30 a.m. 40 sub-Saharan migrants were rescued from a precarious metal boat. There were 20 minors on board, 18 of whom were unaccompanied by adults.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A woman from Cote d'Ivoire bursts into tears minutes after being brought to safety in a boat of the Spanish rescue ship Aita Mari in the SAR (Search and Rescue) Malta area. The rescue vessel Aita Mari of the Basque NGO SMH spotted a wooden boat of less than 5 meters floating in the Sar Malta Zone, at around 15:30 hrs the rescue began 33 miles off the coast of Tunisia to bring 31 sub-Saharan migrants to safety.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

31 migrants packed into a small boat 33 miles off the coast of Tunisia minutes before being brought to safety by the rescue team of the Basque NGO SMH. Rescue vessel Aita Mari began the rescue 33 miles off the coast of Tunisia to bring 31 sub-Saharan migrants to safety.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A woman thanks the heavens for her life after boarding a precarious dinghy and being rescued by the Spanish vessel Aita Mari. The rescue ship of the Basque NGO SMH spotted a wooden boat of less than 5 meters floating in the Sar Malta Zone, 33 miles off the coast of Tunisia and the rescue began to bring 31 sub-Saharan migrants to safety.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Wrapped in a lifejacket, a 3-month-old baby cries minutes after being rescued from a precarious wooden boat no more than 5 meters long at around 3:30 p.m. 33 miles off the coast of Tunisia. Malta is located at the frontline of the Central Mediterranean route. It is a waypoint for migrants coming from the North African coast and crossing the Mediterranean, who have to pass through the Maltese search and rescue region.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

One of the MSF rescue team members exchanges words with a group of 55 sub-Saharan migrants 27 miles off Libya minutes before rescuing them. Doctors Without Borders carries out its first rescue of 55 people on rotation 36 in the Mediterranean sea.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A woman breaks down in tears and thanks Allah minutes after she was rescued by the rescue ship of the Spanish maritime NGO in SAR Italy. At around 7:30 a.m., 44 miles off Lampedusa, 40 sub-Saharan migrants were rescued from a precarious metal boat.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

MSF rescue team handing out life jackets to 55 migrants 27 miles off Libya in the Mediterranean sea. Doctors Without Borders carries out its first rescue of 55 people on rescue mission rotation 36.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A man holds a seven-month-old baby girl in his arms to hand her over to the NGO Aita Mari sea rescue team. 44 miles off Lampedusa, 40 sub-Saharan migrants were rescued from a precarious metal boat. There were 20 minors on board, 18 of whom were unaccompanied by adults.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

The crew of a Guardia di Finanza boat rescuing 40-50 migrants a few miles off Lampedusa. At around 7:30 a.m., 44 miles off Lampedusa, 40 sub-Saharan migrants were rescued from a precarious metal boat. There were 20 minors on board, 18 of whom were unaccompanied by adults.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Smoking cigarettes in the early morning hours, some of the 13 crew members of the Basque rescue boat Aita Mari are preparing to leave the port of Vinaros to carry out exercises and rescue drills in the open sea. The ship of the Basque NGO SMH departed on its first mission in 2023.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A group of 40 migrants, half of whom are minors and 18 are unaccompanied by adults, wait on the stern of the Basque vessel Aita Mari for Italian authorities to approve their disembarkation in the port of Ortona. After 4 days of crossing to Italy, the 40 sub-Saharan migrants arrived in safe harbor and are in the hands of Italian authorities.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A migrant waits his turn for lunch on the Spanish humanitarian vessel Aita Mari. The rescue ship the Basque NGO SMH spotted a wooden boat of less than 5 meters floating in the Sar Malta Zone, and the rescue began 33 miles off the coast of Tunisia to bring 31 sub-Saharan migrants to safety.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A sailor from the Spanish rescue ship Aita Mari watches the sea at sunset from the deck as they head into the central Mediterranean on a rescue mission. Malta is located at the frontline of the Central Mediterranean route. It is a waypoint for migrants coming from the North African coast and crossing the Mediterranean, who have to pass through the Maltese search and rescue region.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A woman cries with joy as she speaks to her family on phone for the first time after risking her life on the metal boat journey across the Mediterranean. 44 and a half miles off Lampedusa Island, 40 sub-Saharan migrants were rescued.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Italian police surround the rescue ship Aita Mari to secure the arrival of 31 African migrants at the port of Cittavecchia in the early morning hours. On Wednesday 15 February at around 15:00 hrs the rescue vessel Aita Mari of the Basque NGO SMH spotted a wooden boat of less than 5 meters floating in the Sar Malta Zone, and the rescue began 33 miles off the coast of Tunisia to bring 31 sub-Saharan migrants.
© Ximena Borrazas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire