Pope appeals for migrants stranded aboard rescue ships

Germany-flagged rescue vessel “Professor Albrecht Penck” sails off the Maltese coast

Two humanitarian ships picked up the migrants as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

The rescue boats belong to the German NGOs Sea-Watch and Sea Eye. They are seeking a port in Europe to disembark their 49 passengers.

Pope Francis brought the issue to international attention on Sunday, when he urged European leaders to show “concrete solidarity regarding these people.”

32 migrants were picked up from unseaworthy boats on December 22^nd. The other 17 migrants were rescued in recent days.

Malta allowed them to shelter off its coast in bad weather on January 3^rd, but is refusing to allow the ships to dock or the migrants to disembark.

No European country has yet given permission for the rescue boats to unload the 49 migrants.

Source: Vatican News