Dutch ask for help for refugee boat
 

The Netherlands has asked several countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea for help in finding a harbour where a ship carrying 32 rescued migrants can dock in safety, the justice ministry has confirmed to DutchNews.nl.

The Sea Watch 3, operated by German aid group Sea-Watch, is sailing under the Dutch flag and has been looking for a destination for more than six days.

Earlier on Friday Spain refused access to the Sea Watch 3, but did accept a boat carrying 311 people operated by aid group Open Arms. The Sea Watch website states that Italy, Malta, Spain, Netherlands and Germany have all refused to accept the Sea Watch ship.

‘Spain said that the Netherlands is responsible for our ship and our people,’ spokesman Jelle Goezinnen told Radio 1 news. ‘So we have now approached the Dutch government.’

A spokesman for the justice ministry told DutchNews.nl the Netherlands is not responsible for the ship. ‘The captain is primarily responsible for finding a safe harbour,’ the spokesman said. ‘Nevertheless, the Dutch government asked countries in the Mediterranean Sea region for safe ports.’

Goezinnen said the migrants on board come from Congo, Sudan, Libya and Egypt. Their number includes six minors, three of whom are travelling alone. The ship is currently in international waters off the coast of Libya.

‘We will have to sail northwards, when supplies run low,’ he said. ‘We have enough food and drink on board for the moment but we would like to get these people to a safe place in Europe before the New Year.’

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2018/1...-refugee-ship/

No.

someone gotta stand up for those poor refugees :(

yes, their own sodding countries

Its a German aid ship
so dump it at Finland or some other nation.

Norway, they seem to be financially well off and i guess nature is also good for the refugees, bit of nice fresh air rather than the heat they are used to

Why dont the dutch take them

we already have loads of refugees here

Just drop them back off in Libya....then keep the ships well away.
These free rides to Europe need to stop.

Libya :skull: there hasn't been peace in like ever

that would be like dropping refugees off from one warzone to another :(

But its sailing under the dutch flag, many countries have their fair share of refugees, is it really fair for a small Island like Malta that depends on tourism for most of its income to take more?

Does anyone think what it would be like to be born into one of these countries.

We don’t get to choose which country or skin colour we are born in but it seem we then think we have the right to choose another humans rights based on their country of birth and skin colour.

We all bleed red!

People tend to forget the home grown British citizens bringing this country to its knees by taking the piss.

Who are they?

true
I mean I know we can't have them all coming to Europe, that's wrong and deprives their own countries of people so there must be a stop to this
but some of the comments like Oliver's about them drowning are unncessarily nasty

It’s the first world countries that go into a third world country and take anything of value minerals precious metals and leave them with nothing.

It’s the same first world countries that send our waste to those countries.

Germany and Holland both had an empire. If it's a German boat and the Dutch are asking for help... why doesn't someone suggest that Germany or Holland take them? Got a bit of a nerve asking someone else for help.

Also, a bit tired of the all-encompassing excuse that the West deserves invading because of the Empire. Always said without the first idea where the refugees in question are coming from. The truth is the West has been, and still is, pouring cash into these countries, digging wells, staving off famines... since the Victorian times. And yet, no progress seems to have been made.

So does everyone!

That comment was unnecessary I agree 2TS.

The idea that a German ship sailing under a dutch flag is asking much smaller countries than their own to take these refugees is insane

Comprehensive solutions are needed, especially in Europe but also in other places.
Where's the political leadership?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but poor Africa existed alongside rich Europe for centuries. And we never had as big a problem with mass migration as we have now.
Was it the fact that Bush and Blair went in and upset the apple cart of stable (if cruel) regimes and plunged many countries into lawlessness?
Is it a by-product of that?

Forgot Syria, that's entirely self-made disaster tho helped by Isis etc who emerged in the aftermath of the West's intervention.

I think social media and the internet has its part to play as well, people probably did migrate in smaller numbers but communication was by phone or letter, there wasn't a mass spread of information like there is now at the touch of a button

There is an obvious reason why Africa became poor. The ancient Egyptians were Africans for example, which is why you see statues that have lasted for thousands of years and made of granite, that mysteriously don't have noses. Congo had an embassy in italy in the 15th century. Africa was a bustling center of culture with it's own trade and wealth in existence, it wasn't just the stereotype of cannibals with bones through their noses waiting to be civilised by the white man.

Africa was made poor, it didn't exist alongside rich Europe, it was made that way by Europe.

apartheid was something bad from south africa for example

They do.

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2019/0...t-rescue-ship/

we dutch might take 6 people from migrant rescue ship