Around 50 minors were among the rescued, including very young children and a pregnant girl.

The minors were immediately transferred to PalaBrasili of Collemarino for initial health and identity checks. Measures were taken to place them in foster care in reception facilities.

Healthcare assistance was provided by the Ancona Red Cross to about 40 people.

About 100 migrants will be transferred to the Lazio region, while 70 will be placed in facilities in Ancona and 30 in the Abruzzo region.

Humanity 1 spokesman says 'Tunisia is not a safe place’

An SOS Humanity spokesperson noted that “various vulnerable people: a pregnant woman, children, youths, and the elderly" were onboard the ship.

"The situation is stable but we wanted to disembark these people first. We had to travel thousands of kilometers to arrive here,” he said after describing to journalists the situation faced by those rescued.

SOS Humanity was in contact with the Coast Guard over the course of the rescue, which was carried out in four operations on July 12.

“We want to stay in the sea and save as many lives as possible,” said the spokesman.

He said he had gathered accounts from the survivors, who were from different parts of Africa and set off from the coast of Tunisia.

“I saw and heard stories of people who had been attacked, beaten, a pregnant woman who lost her baby,” he said. “I saw signs of physical violence, very tragic stories including those of children. These people need help and protection and Tunisia is the opposite of a safe place. In recent weeks, with nine ships, we saved at least 400 people that were coming from there,” he added.

Assistance for all minors, focus on pregnant minor

The pregnant minor was taken by rescue vehicles to the Materno Infantile Salesi hospital for health checks.

From there she was taken to other facilities.

Social services counselor Manuela Caucci curated the reception of the migrants, while the deputy mayor and security and civil protection counselor Giovanni Zinni managed the disembarking and transfer of the migrants.

“In the pre-alert phase, all the contacts had been established to draw up possible destinations and act in such a way that the migrants were made safe without being stuck in an emergency situation,” Caucci said.

The operations, coordinated by the prefect’s office and the Ancona police headquarters in collaboration with the municipal administration “were successful,” Zinni said. “We hope that there will not be a high number of migrants landing in the future since the facilities we have available are few.”