60 migrants refused by Italy and Malta arrive in Barcelona
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - A rescue ship carrying 60 migrants has arrived in a Spanish port after being refused entry by Italy and Malta, the second time in a month that a humanitarian group has been forced to travel for days to unload people rescued in the central Mediterranean.
The Open Arms ship docked Wednesday in the northeastern port of Barcelona, where the group - including 5 women, a 9-year-old toddler and four teenagers - will be going through health checks and identification procedures.
The Spanish aid group Proactiva Open Arms said the migrants come from 14 countries and are in good health.
In this photo taken on Monday, July 2, 2018, migrant women look at a crew's computer aboard the Open Arms aid boat, of Proactiva Open Arms Spanish NGO. Spain's government said Barcelona will be the docking port for the aid boat traveling with 60 migrants rescued on Saturday in waters near Libya and rejected by both Italy and Malta. (AP Photo/Olmo Calvo)
Doctors Without Borders says more than 500 people have died in the Mediterranean since the Aquarius, another rescue ship, was blocked from ports in Italy and Malta in June.
In this photo taken on Monday, July 2, 2018, Captain Marco Martinez Esteban shows control of the Open Arms ship to Narcisse Saturnin Gbamago, 30, of the Central African Republic, aboard the Open Arms aid boat, of Proactiva Open Arms Spanish NGO. Spain's government said Barcelona will be the docking port for the aid boat traveling with 60 migrants rescued on Saturday in waters near Libya and rejected by both Italy and Malta. (AP Photo/Olmo Calvo)
In this photo taken on Monday, July 2, 2018, Guillermo Cañardo, chief of mission, and Marco Martinez Esteban, captain of the Open Arms boat, watch cartoons on a computer next to Khingsley Dokowada, 9, of Central African Republic, aboard the Open Arms aid boat, of Proactiva Open Arms Spanish NGO. Spain's government said Barcelona will be the docking port for the aid boat traveling with 60 migrants rescued on Saturday in waters near Libya and rejected by both Italy and Malta. (AP Photo/Olmo Calvo)
In this photo taken on Monday, July 2, 2018, Guillermo Cañardo, chief of mission, and Marco Martinez Esteban, captain of the Open Arms boat, watch cartoons on a computer next to Khingsley Dokowada, 9, of Central African Republic, aboard the Open Arms aid boat, of Proactiva Open Arms Spanish NGO. Spain's government said Barcelona will be the docking port for the aid boat traveling with 60 migrants rescued on Saturday in waters near Libya and rejected by both Italy and Malta. (AP Photo/Olmo Calvo)
In this photo taken on Monday, July 2, 2018, rescued migrants check their mobile phones aboard the Open Arms aid boat, of Proactiva Open Arms Spanish NGO. Spain's government said Barcelona will be the docking port for the aid boat traveling with 60 migrants rescued on Saturday in waters near Libya and rejected by both Italy and Malta. (AP Photo/Olmo Calvo)
In this photo taken on Monday, July 2, 2018, rescued migrants pray aboard the Open Arms aid boat, of Proactiva Open Arms Spanish NGO. Spain's government said Barcelona will be the docking port for the aid boat traveling with 60 migrants rescued on Saturday in waters near Libya and rejected by both Italy and Malta. (AP Photo/Olmo Calvo)
In this photo taken on Monday, July 2, 2018, Zatadina, 20, from Eritrea, records with her mobile phone as other rescued people and part of the crew dance aboard the Open Arms aid boat, of Proactiva Open Arms Spanish NGO, on their way to Europe. Spain's government said Barcelona will be the docking port for the aid boat traveling with 60 migrants rescued on Saturday in waters near Libya and rejected by both Italy and Malta. (AP Photo/Olmo Calvo)
In this photo taken on Monday, July 2, 2018, Khingsley Dokowada, 9, of the Central African Republic, explores the Open Arms aid boat, of Proactiva Open Arms Spanish NGO. Spain's government said Barcelona will be the docking port for the aid boat traveling with 60 migrants rescued on Saturday in waters near Libya and rejected by both Italy and Malta. (AP Photo/Olmo Calvo)
In this photo taken on Monday, July 2, 2018, Noumissi Messi, 22, from Cameroon, looks ahead at sea, aboard the Open Arms aid boat, of Proactiva Open Arms Spanish NGO. Spain's government said Barcelona will be the docking port for the aid boat traveling with 60 migrants rescued on Saturday in waters near Libya and rejected by both Italy and Malta. (AP Photo/Olmo Calvo)