EU: Malta Has "Humanitarian Duty" to Allow Refugees Off Tanker

102 African migrants on the boat

Malta has landed itself in hot water with the European Commission over the country's refusal to allow entry to a tanker carrying 102 African migrants. The island nation receives thousands of Africans who enter the country illegally with over 1,000 arriving in the past month.

The EU Home Affairs Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, said that the Maltese authorities had a "humanitarian duty" to allow the people to disembark.