Over 350 migrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast by the Ocean Viking humanitarian vessel in simply two days, a French NGO working the boat mentioned on Saturday.
SOS Mediterranee mentioned that “106 individuals had been rescued … in worldwide waters 28 nautical miles (50 kms) from the Libyan coast” on Friday night.
“The vast majority of the individuals aboard an inflatable rubber dinghy had been discovered intoxicated by oil fumes,” it mentioned. They got here from Guinea, Sudan and Sierra Leone.
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On Friday morning, the Ocean Viking picked up 149 individuals from two boats following an SOS sign, together with 58 minors and 4 infants – one only a month previous, it mentioned.
Since Thursday, a complete of 374 individuals have been rescued by the Ocean Viking, of whom 165 are kids, SOS Mediterranee mentioned.
A complete of 131 minors are unaccompanied.
Libya, which descended into chaos following the 2011 rebellion that toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, has emerged as a significant transit level for African and Arab migrants fleeing struggle and poverty to Europe.
Whereas many have drowned at sea, 1000’s have been intercepted by the Libyan coastguard, which has been backed by Italy and the European Union, and returned to Libya.
They largely find yourself in detention, usually in horrific circumstances.
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The Ocean Viking took to the seas on January 11 after being blocked in Italy for 5 months earlier than being launched in December. Authorities had cited alleged issues of safety for the holdup.
Ocean Viking is at the moment the only real rescue ship run by an NGO within the space, in accordance with SOS Mediterranee’s head, Sophie Beau, who mentioned “the others have been blocked by Italian authorities just like the Ocean Viking earlier.”
Most migrants depart from Libya and Tunisia making an attempt a hazardous Mediterranean crossing to try to enter Europe by means of Italy.
Greater than 1,200 died final 12 months whereas attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
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Final Replace: Saturday, 23 January 2021 KSA 16:13 – GMT 13:13
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