Nearly 1,000 migrants stranded in Med as NGOs urge Italy, Malta to help

FILE PHOTO: Migrants are on deck before arriving at the port of Messina on board of Open Arms Uno rescue boat off the coast of Sicily, Italy, August 27, 2022. REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo

ROME (Reuters) - Three charity boats carrying almost 1,000 rescued migrants on Wednesday urged Italian or Maltese authorities to welcome them into one of their ports, saying those onboard needed urgent assistance.

The vessels operated by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), SOS Mediterranee and SOS Humanity have been at sea for more than a week. They said all their requests to dock have so far proved unsuccessful.