The migrants will be transferred from the rescue ship Aquarius to the Italian vessels that will maker the 1400 km trip to Valencia.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has rounded on Italy’s new home affairs minister Matteo Salvini for breaking international law and creating the stalemate that left the rescued migrants stranded at sea.

Spain’s new socialist premier Pedro Sanchez says the migrants may land in Spain after they were barred by Italy and Malta.

European authorities are calling for a more coordinated response to dealing with maritime rescue operations to avoid future crisis that left seven pregnant women, 11 children and 127 unaccompanied minors among the 629 migrants saved by SOS Mediterranee in serious danger. 

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Their ship carrying seven pregnant women, 11 infants and 123 unaccompanied minors is still at sea at this hour.

The migrants were rescued in six operations by the organization SOS Mediterranee.

Because this happened in Libyan waters, the rescue vessel Aquarius headed for Sicily where Italy’s new rightwing government declared the port closed to it.

Authorities in Rome urged the ship to head to Malta which was also barred it.

The United Nations High Commission For Refugees declared the ship was running out of supplies and urgently needed help.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said the Aquarius could dock in Valencia – 1 400 km away.

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The unprecedented decision to bar the MV Aquarius from Italian harbours was taken by new Italian right-wing Interior Minister Matteo Salvini in line with an election pledge to take a tough line on migration. He demanded that Malta must accept the migrants instead.

New Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has  phoned Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat about the issue.

Muscat says Malta’s  refusing to allow the ship in because, in terms of international law, the migrants should been taken to the nearest port to their rescue, which is not Malta.

Malta says the German charity SOS Méditerranée picked up the migrants in Libyan waters, which means they fall under Italy’s jurisdiction.

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