Aquarius migrant ship ends rescue operations

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The Aquarius migrant rescue ship is to end its operations, SOS Méditerranée, the French humanitarian group which charters the boat, said on Thursday.
MSF (Doctors Without Borders) and SOS Méditerranée announced in a joint statement that they had "brought an end" to the ship's rescue operations.
The NGOs said they were "forced to terminate the lifesaving operations" due to "sustained attacks on search and rescue by European states."
Director of operations Frederic Penard said "giving up the Aquarius has been an extremely difficult decision," adding that the group was "actively exploring options for a new boat."
The ship has been blocked at the French port of Marseille since the end of September after losing its registration.
The Aquarius has rescued thousands of migrants from the Mediterranean as immigration continues to be a hot-button political issue across the European Union.
It was the last NGO-chartered rescue ship operating off the coast of Libya, a key departure point for many sub-Saharan African migrants.
The ship was at the heart of a diplomatic row in June when it became stranded with more than 600 migrants on board after Italy and Malta had refused to let it dock.
Under a deal reached in August, 141 migrants aboard the Aquarius were distributed among France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain.
(Top image: Migrants are rescued by the Aquarius off the Libyan Coast, August 10, 2018. 

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