Nearly 900 migrants were rescued from sailing in the Mediterranean yesterday, while hundreds more were transported to Sicily, as official figures from Italian authorities show that even more people dare make the dangerous voyage from North Africa to Europe this year compared to last year.
A Norwegian ship of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex) and a boat of the SOS Méditerranée rescued migrants loaded on four large inflatable boats, according to a statement of the Italian Coast Guard, which coordinates operations.
Meanwhile, more than 800 people from African countries, including citizens of Eritrea and Somalia, who were rescued yesterday Thursday, were transported to the port of Augusta in southeastern Sicily.
"These people made a very difficult journey," said Save the Children NGO spokeswoman Giovanna Di Benedetto at the port. "Many of the minors are unaccompanied, including young children. Some very small ".
Since the beginning of the year, 14.319 immigrants have arrived in Italy, according to data from the Italian Ministry of Interior. In the corresponding period of 2016, 9.101 arrivals were recorded. Last year, Italy welcomed a total of 181.000 migrants, an unprecedented number.
At the same time, 115 migrants were rescued yesterday off Tripoli as the boat they were trying to reach Europe by sea was wrecked, but another 25 are missing, said a representative of the Libyan Navy.
"We have rescued 115 illegal immigrants, including six women (…) all of whom are African nationals, except for one Bangladeshi national," said Ayub Qasim, an official.
According to the information provided by the survivors, "there were 140 passengers" in the inflatable. The men boarded the boat overnight on a beach in Tatzura, a small town 30km east of Tripoli, the spokesman said.
"Our search for the missing has been fruitless," he added.
The Libyan officer explained that the coast guard received a call for help yesterday morning from the occupants of the boat.
When Libyan navy and navy boats arrived at the scene, they discovered the migrants on a zodiac "that was pouring water and was about to sink".
The migrants were offered first aid in Tripoli before being handed over to the illegal immigration prosecution services, he said.
Six years after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya is torn apart by power struggles and violence and has become a hub for migrant networks to Europe.
Last month, the bodies of 75 people trying to reach Italy by crossing the Mediterranean were washed ashore in western Libya.
Source: newsbeast.gr