Rome, 7 November 2022 (dpa/MIA) - The United Nations and the European Commission have called for immediate help for the four rescue ships waiting to be allowed ashore off the coast of Italy. "A solution is urgently needed for all remaining survivors on all four ships at sea," the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency UNHCR said on Monday. Some 600 refugees are waiting to be allowed ashore, according to UN figures. "In line with international standards, every effort should be made to ensure that the time for those remaining on board these vessels is as short as possible," a European Commission spokeswoman said in Brussels. All competent authorities should cooperate to provide an "appropriate safe place," she added. Desperate people attempted to jump ship and swim to shore while others started hunger strikes as a backlog of rescue ships carrying migrants rescued during their attempt to cross the Mediterranean neared the coast on Monday. Three people jumped from the Geo Barents, which is in Catania's harbour, in an attempt to reach land. According to media reports, they were intercepted, unharmed, by the coastguard. Italian officials allowed nearly 360 migrants from the Geo Barents to enter Sicily on Monday, but limited access to women, children and injured people. That meant 214 migrants remained on board. A similar decision for another ship, Humanity 1, meant that 35 people remained on board. There are also about 90 people waiting on the vessel Rise Above, which is running out of fuel, spokesperson Hermine Poschmann said in comments to the Corriere della Sera newspaper. Meanwhile, the Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Méditerranée, has more than 230 on board. Some migrants in waiting ships have had to be evacuated for medical reasons. Boat crews say the situation is getting worse. "We've been seeing panic attacks on board since this morning," Riccardo Gatti of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) told the ANSA news agency. Italy wants the ships to move on to a new port, but the rescuers say international law states they need to be able to take those they pick up to the nearest safe port. "I am really angry and sad that I've been forced to participate in an illegal action," said the captain of the Humanity 1, who has argued that he can't leave while people are still on board, meaning they are essentially trapped there. Rome's new right-wing government has tightened migration policy since taking office in October. It only wants to let those in need of help ashore. The rest, according to Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, must return to international waters. Italy says flag states are responsible, meaning the countries where the ships are registered. Aid organizations say Italy's policy violates international law. The European Commission has urged that stranded migrants be taken to safety. "In line with international norms, every effort should be made to ensure that the time is minimized for the people remaining on board of these ships ... we encourage all relevant authorities to cooperate with each other in providing a suitable place of safety for the people on board in order to ensure the disembarkation." The aid organization SOS Humanity plans to take legal action against Italy.