Georgia Meloni faces first migration test from two NGO rescue boats

Vessels carrying at least 380 people could ask Italian authorities to disembark them in Sicily safe port

Two NGO rescue boats carrying hundreds of asylum seekers in the central Mediterranean are expected to face the first test of migration policy under Italy's new far-right government after Rome threatened to prevent them from entering Italian waters.

The Norwegian-flagged Ocean Viking, operated by the NGO SOS Mediterranee, has more than 200 people onboard. The other vessel, Humanity One, flying the German flag and run by the German charity SOS Humanity, is carrying about 180. Most left Libya on small boats. Both ships could ask the Italian authorities for authorisation to disembark their passengers in a safe port in Sicily.