MORE than 500 people have been rescued in the central Mediterranean by activist-run ships this week, and they are all still waiting on the European authorities to allow them to come ashore.

There are currently 145 people aboard German rescuers Sea-Watch’s ship Sea-Watch 4, and 470 on Doctors Without Borders’ (MSF) Geo Barents ship.

Another rescue ship, the Sea-Eye 4, was already carrying the 34 people her crew saved on on Monday when it saved another 24 people on Thursday night.