Two More Tragic Incidents for Migrant Boats in the Mediterranean
Not much time has passed since the new year when news arrives of two tragic incidents involving boats carrying refugees in the Mediterranean Sea with 170 possible casualties. Europe has still been unable to find a solution to this problem.
In two tragic incidents involving refugee boats in the Mediterranean Sea, up to 170 refugees may have lost their lives. In one of these cases that occurred on Friday (January 25) off the coast of Libya, 117 people have gone missing. The other incident involved the sinking of 53 people en route to Spain. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees announced this news on Saturday (January 26).
Furthermore, according to reports from non-governmental organizations, on Sunday (January 27) a boat carrying 100 people encountered an emergency situation in Libyan waters. A rescue boat from a German aid organization has come to help refugees in the Mediterranean once again, and it is unclear where they will be taken.
117 People Missing
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on an inflatable boat that encountered an accident in Libyan waters on Friday. According to three people who survived the incident, the boat was carrying 120 refugees in total. Among those missing in this incident were 10 women and two children, one of whom was two months old. The Italian Navy transferred the three survivors to the island of Lampedusa.
Di Giacomo, spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, told news agencies that after 10 hours of wind, the boat gradually emptied and sank into the water and passengers fell into the sea. Most passengers on this boat were citizens of West Africa and approximately 40 were Sudanese.
This is while it is reported that a boat belonging to the Libyan coast guard forces rushed to help this boat, but encountered technical problems along the way and was unable to proceed.
Since a populist government came to power in Italy and closed the country’s ports to boats carrying refugees, fewer migrants have been entering the country. These migrants mainly depart from Libya and head toward the Mediterranean waters and European coasts.
Italy and the European Union support the Libyan coast guard to return migrants to the war-torn country of Libya. However, human traffickers have changed their routes and are now heading more toward the shores of Spain.
Emergency Situation in the Alboran Sea
Another incident in recent days also relates to this route to Spain. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 53 people drowned in the Alboran Sea between Morocco and Spain. A Moroccan survivor of this incident, who was rescued after 24 hours of drifting at sea by a fishing boat, reported this incident to Moroccan authorities.
Pope Francis, the leader of Catholics worldwide, prayed for the victims of this incident on Sunday and said: “They were looking for a better future and may have fallen victim to human traffickers. Let us pray for them and for those responsible for this incident.”
Matteo Salvini, Italy’s Interior Minister, holds aid organizations responsible for these incidents. According to him, “As long as European Union ports remain open to migrants and private aid organizations rescue them from the water, human traffickers will continue their deadly business.”
Of course, at present, few non-governmental organizations engage in rescue operations in Mediterranean waters. Last summer, a number of rescue boats from non-governmental organizations carrying migrants were stranded in the sea for days and were not allowed to move.
Source: DW
