(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 5 - NGOS running migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean said Thursday that the Italian government's new decree introducing a code of conduct whereby they can only carry out one rescue at a time, as quickly as possible, will put more lives at risk on what is already one of the most deadly routes in the world.
    "We, civil organisations engaged in search and rescue (SAR) activities in the central Mediterranean, express our deepest concern about the latest attempt by a European government to hinder assistance to people in distress at sea", said a joint document by all the NGOs engaged in the activity of rescue at sea.
    "The new decree-law signed by the Italian President on 2 January 2023 will reduce our sea rescue capabilities and will make the Central Mediterranean, already one of the deadliest migration routes in the world, even more dangerous." Several migrant rescue ships are operating in the Med at the moment, with the Doctors Without Borders-run Geo Barents having picked up a total of 85 migrants in two separate operations but having escaped fines because the decree had not come into force yet.
    Sweden, which took over the rotating presidency of the EU at the start of the year, dashed Italian hopes of easing the migrant reception burden on Rome by saying it could not see any migrant redistribution deal coming this year. (ANSA).