06 August, 2015

Migrant Boat Overturns In Libya, Hundreds Feared Dead


A fishing boat transferring hundreds of migrants across the Mediterranean Sea from Libya has capsized off the North African country.
 
UNHCR officials while giving statements on the social media said that 399 people have been rescued and 25 confirmed dead out of the estimated 600 migrants on the boat.

The Punch reported that a Valletta, Malta based journalist, Karl Stagno-Navarra told Al Jazeera that an Irish navy vessel  also confirmed that the boat capsized when the people on board gathered one side as the LE Niamh approached it.

Stagno-Navarra in his words said: “The Irish vessel LE Niamh was present in the area, as part of the EU-sponsored operations dealing with migration at sea,” while adding that it got close to the migrant boat after receiving a distress signal.

He added that Italian coastguard, a vessel of the Malta-based Migrant Offshore Aid Station and representatives of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are on ground to be part of the rescue efforts.

MSF on Twitter recounted that, “There have tragically been many deaths, but [the MSF] does not have figures at this stage.”
 
Stagno-Navarra while speaking stressed that: “This is an extremely difficult operation as many migrants do not know how to swim and the conditions are reported to be windy and stormy.”





 

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