Libya: One dead pregnant and 22 missing after sinking of boat with migrants

A pregnant woman lost her life and at least 22 people, including young children, are ignored after the sinking of their boat in the central Mediterranean, Doctors Without Borders announced today.

The organization managed to rescue 71 migrants, including a four month old baby, sending the ambulance ship Geo Barents off the Libyan coast, where the boat sank on Monday.

«We were faced with our worst nightmareSaid Ricardo Gatti, the team leader, in his announcement.

The boat with the migrants was sinking and many people were already in the water when Geo Barents approached them, after received a message for assistance to a vessel in distress. The volunteers put a pregnant woman on the ambulance ship, but she succumbed, despite the doctors' efforts to keep her alive.

According to the survivors, 22 people are missing. Two mothers said they lost their children at sea while a young woman said she lost her little brother.

An infant was rescued and transported with his mother to Malta for treatment. The other survivors remain on Geo Barents.

«The survivors are exhausted, many had drunk sea water and many suffer from hypothermia because they stayed at sea for many hours.", Explained Stephanie Hofstetter, head of the MSF medical team. "At least 10 people, mostly women, are suffering from fuel burns and need medical treatment," he added.

Crossing the central Mediterranean is considered one of the most dangerous routes for migrants trying to reach Europe.. According to the Italian Ministry of Interior, about 27.000 people have arrived in the country since the beginning of the year, while last year, in the corresponding period, there were less than 20.000 arrivals.

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