Italy threatens to close ports to humanitarian refugee rescue ships as it reaches ‘saturation point’

‘Italy has threatened to close its ports to humanitarian refugee rescue ships to as it reaches “saturation point” in the ongoing crisis.
More than 10,000 migrants have been brought to the country’s shores in recent days, and the crossings from Libya show no sign of slowing the peak summer season.
Maurizio Massari, Italy’s ambassador to the EU, raised the issue at a meeting with the EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.
A spokesperson for the Italian government said the ambassador warned the “the situation we are facing is serious and Europe cannot turn its back”.
“Italy is right that the situation is untenable along the Central Mediterranean route,” Mr Avramopoulos said in a statement, adding that the EU was ready to increase financial assistance to help Italy manage the flows.’
Read more: Italy threatens to close ports to humanitarian refugee rescue ships as it reaches ‘saturation point’