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6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 19 MAY 2021 NEWS Darren Debono Ship with over 400 rescued boat migrants makes plea for German solidarity MATTHEW VELLA OVER 400 boat migrants were rescued at sea by the Sea-Eye charity, as it seeks safe port for the people rescued inside the Lib- yan and Maltese search and rescue zones. Sea-Eye said that 247 German munici- palities and cities had declared their read- iness to accept people rescued at sea by the Seebrücke alliance, Michael Schwickart, vice-chairman of United4 Rescue, called for European sol- idarity with Mediterranean countries. "It must not be that now again an undigni- fied discussion about the distribution of individuals begins at the European level. We must be in solidarity with the Medi- terranean countries. "The German government would send a clear and important signal if it declared its willingness to take in the rescued per- sons. This could also lead to our alliance ships not being repeatedly detained and prevented from rescuing people. How much these ships are needed, we have seen in the last few hours." The rescue ship Sea-Eye 4 saved over 400 people in four days, from wooden boats unsuitable for the high seas in six rescue operations. The UNHCR has also reported that the Libyan Coast Guard had prevented a total of 650 people from leaving Libya, at the same time. "Those rescued come from many dif- ferent nations. Among them are many minors, who are considered particularly vulnerable. So far, not a single European authority has responded to the messages from Sea-Eye 4," said Sea-Eye chairman Gorden Isler. "We very much hope that we will be as- signed a port of safety for the Sea-Eye 4 in the next hours. Our crew has been in ac- tion for more than 96 hours because there has been no governmental effort at all to help these people seeking protection." The Sea-Eye 4 is heading north and wait- ing for a European rescue coordination centre to take over further coordination. "Among the over 400 people rescued, 25 were in a condition requiring treatment or even in critical condition. An eight- year-old boy, for example, was no longer responsive. We have since been able to stabilize him and all the other patients in the onboard hospital. Three pregnant women and one baby are in good condi- tion," said Dr Stefan Mees of the German Doctors mission which has partnered with the Sea-Eye 4. "We tested one man with pneumonia, negative for COVID-19. The most com- mon diagnoses were hypothermia, de- hydration, malnutrition, exhaustion, and seasickness and unconsciousness. It is deeply distressing that most people also show clear symptoms of severe trauma – including many of the children." MATTHEW AGIUS A man stabbed in Marsa four days ago has been arraigned in court on drugs charges after 41 sachets of synthetic drugs were found in his socks. Ali Ahmed Mohammed Moummi, 22, from Sudan and living in Marsa, was charged with possession of an il- legal new psychoactive substance in circumstances which denoted it wasn't exclusively for personal use, within 100 metres of a school or place frequented by youths. Last Friday, Moummi had been stabbed in Marsa during a fight with a man who the police found to be carry- ing synthetic drugs. The man's assail- ant was charged with attempted mur- der and drugs charges on Monday. Inspectors Steven Ryan Micallef, prosecuting together with Inspector Andy Rotin, told Magistrate Char- maine Galea that the accused had been asked to go to the police station after his release from hospital following the stabbing incident. Officers noticed the man acting strangely and had conduct- ed a search on his person. 41 sachets of synthetic drugs were found hidden in his socks. Moummi explained to the police that he was a heavy user of these drugs. However, the fact that the drugs were divided in- to sachets caused the police to suspect that he was planning on selling them and he was arrested. Police records showed that Moummi had been a heavy drinker in the past and had been in trouble with the law before, inspector Micallef said. The accused's defence lawyer, Chris- topher Chircop, entered a plea of not guilty. Bail was not requested at this stage. Stabbing victim charged with possession of synthetic drugs