Charity Boat Rescues 50 Migrants Off Libya

A charity rescue ship has rescued 50 migrants from a wooden boat off the coast of Libya, while seven others were found dead, the organisation said.

The Emergency rescue vessel carried out the operation on Monday in international waters after locating the migrants aboard the boat, according to a statement sent to Reuters.

Two of the survivors were in critical condition and suffering from suffocation, requiring urgent medical evacuation, the charity said.

The survivors told rescuers they had departed from the Libyan coastal town of Zuwara on August 16. They were from Somalia and Egypt.

The group included 45 men and five women, while 29 of those rescued were unaccompanied minors, according to Emergency.

The rescue comes amid growing concerns over deaths along the central Mediterranean migration route, one of the world’s most dangerous migration corridors.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said last week that known migrant deaths along the central Mediterranean route had risen sharply, despite a decline in the number of migrants attempting the crossing.

Migrants travelling from North Africa towards Europe often undertake dangerous sea journeys in overcrowded or unseaworthy boats, with many requiring rescue after experiencing mechanical failures, fuel shortages or harsh weather conditions.

The latest rescue highlights the continuing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Libya, where deadly incidents and difficult sea conditions remain a persistent threat.

SOURCE: Reuters