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The cost of rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean

What does it cost to run a migrant rescue boat? We examine why politics, diplomatic rows, higher prices and compassion fatigue are all increasing the financial pressures.

In this episode of Business Daily we get on board The Ocean Viking, a migrant rescue boat operated by the non-governmental organisations SOS Méditerranée and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

The boat has recently been at the centre of a diplomatic row having been denied permission to dock by the Italian authorities and instead having to travel to France so those onboard could disembark. The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Frey Lindsay spoke to some of the migrants and crew on the boat over the last few weeks.

We’ll also hear from the former mayor of Lampedusa, Giusi Nicolini, on why she thinks European states should cooperate much more to deal with this kind of migration. Sophie Beau and Xavier Lauth of SOS Méditerranée also explain why politics, diplomatic rows, higher prices and compassion fatigue are all increasing the financial pressures on their operations.

Producer / presenter: Frey Lindsay
Image: Crew on the Ocean Viking; Credit: Getty

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18 minutes

Last on

Wed 16 Nov 2022 08:32GMT

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  • Wed 16 Nov 2022 08:32GMT

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