Doctors Without Borders' Geo Barents is the first NGO ship engaged in a search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean to disembark at an Italian port after the government's announcement of the new immigration decree, which includes stricter limits on the behavior of humanitarian rescuers. The Geo Barents arrived at Taranto, rescuing 85 migrants who were carried on board in two separate operations: 41 on a first boat and 44 on a second boat found a few hours later. Following a request for a safe port, the MSF ship altered course in response to an Alarm Phone report: however, when they got at the designated location, the Geo Barents operators had not located any wayward boats. MSF rescued 85 individuals, including 72 men, 2 women, and 9 children, all of whom were in good health. An inquiry into Geo Barents' activities was promptly launched, albeit no infractions seem to have occurred at this time: first, since the two rescues occurred before the directive was issued, and in any case on the recommendation of the Italian port authorities.
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