As of: 01/20/2022 5:15 p.m
Several rescue ships from private initiatives have saved hundreds of people in the Mediterranean. Including children and babies. In some operations, the emergency call initiative “Alarm Phone” was the deciding factor.
Three private sea rescue initiatives have rescued hundreds of boat migrants in distress in the central Mediterranean. According to media reports, more than 450 people were at risk of drowning. As the organization “Doctors Without Borders” announced, almost 110 boat migrants were brought on board the “Geo Barents”. On Wednesday she had already rescued 87 refugees from an overcrowded rubber dinghy.
Rescue of sinking wooden boat
The crew of the “Mare Jonio” of the Italian organization Mediterranea Saving Humans demanded the assignment of a port with 208 rescued people on board. The crew had brought the people on board in two operations. Last over 100 survivors from a wooden boat, including 14 women and two children under one year old. Some of the occupants had already gone overboard, but could also have been rescued.
The “Louise Michel”, supported by street artist Banksy, rescued 62 refugees from a dinghy in distress. Among them were several children and babies, the speedboat crew said on Twitter. Most of the rescued are exhausted and traumatized, but relieved to have survived.
31 dead since the beginning of the year
During several of these operations, people in distress at sea called for help via the “Alarm Phone” initiative’s emergency hotline, which then informed the coast guards of the European Mediterranean countries and private initiatives.
The refugees and migrants leave, among other things, from the coasts of the civil war country Libya. The trip across the Mediterranean is one of the most dangerous escape routes in the world. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 31 people have died or are missing during the crossing since the beginning of the year. In 2021 there were 2043 people. However, the number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher.