Malta finally agreed last night to allow the Alan Kurdi, the ship operated by the German charity Sea Eye, to enter its ports with five survivors on board.

It was the latest of the humanitarian stand-off in the Mediterranean Sea.

Ten days ago, the Alan Kurdi rescued 13 young men from a wooden boat in the central Mediterranean. Despite being in waters which Malta is supposed to operate in, the authorities there refused to allow the ship to enter its ports and the Alan Kurdi remained in international waters while tension grew.

Eight migrants were evacuated from the ship last week with serious medical conditions. Two minors among them had attempted to kill themselves by jumping over board.