Refugee-rescuing NGO, fire-preventing groups among those awarded with distinction

The NGO rescuing refugees in the Mediterranean Sea ProActiva Open Arms is one of the organizations awarded with one of Catalonia's highest distinctions, the Creu de Sant Jordi (Saint George's Cross in English.)

Given by the Catalan government, laureates also include the groups preventing fires in the country (ADF), the Union of Sports Federations of Catalonia (UFEC) and dignitaries in the fields of literature, drawing, and others.

Historian Josep Cruanyes, who has been working for decades in favor of the historical memory and the recovery of the damage caused by dictator Franco's era, is one of the 31 individuals awarded with such distinction.

After this announcement being delayed due to direct rule in force for seven months in Catalonia, 24 entities were also honored.

Open Arms facing problems in Italy

Those include ProActiva Open Arms, which has been especially relevant in the past few years for rescuing thousands of migrants stranded in the Mediterranean.

This, despite obstacles from some countries such as recently Italy –what made recently a boat by Open Arms with some 60 refugees dock in Barcelona instead of Italy, which was much closer.

On Tuesday, the Italian home affairs minister, Matteo Salvini, rejected again accepting boats from NGO rescue boats including Open Arms.

"Save money and time, you will see the Italian ports in a postcard," he claimed.

Awards related to political turmoil

The Creu de Sant Jordi awards also include individuals and organizations related to the political turmoil last autumn in Catalonia.

The man who lost an eye during the October 1 referendum due to rubber bullets by the Spanish police, Roger Español, was one of the people awarded.

The association gathering relatives of the jailed and exiled leaders (ACDC) also got a Creu de Sant Jordi only few months after its establishment.