Status: 02.07.2021 2:57 p.m.
The “Ocean Viking” rescued 44 people from distress in the Mediterranean. The migrants were brought on board from two wooden boats. According to the aid organization, the Libyan coast guard disrupted the rescue operation.
The aid organization SOS Mediterranee has rescued more than 40 people from distress in the central Mediterranean. The organization announced that the crew of the “Ocean Viking” picked up the boat migrants on two missions in Maltese waters. Among the rescued are 15 minors and five women, one of whom is pregnant, it said. The two boats may have been drifting at sea for two days.
Refugee boat was almost rammed
According to reports from the organization, a Libyan Coast Guard patrol boat disrupted the first of the two rescue operations. The ship chased the migrant manned boat in the Maltese search and rescue zone.
Sea-Watch shared a video on social media showing a small multi-person boat being followed by a larger ship. Sea-Watch recorded the video of the incident in the Mediterranean by its own account from its “Seabird” aircraft. Shots were fired in the direction of the boat and objects were thrown at the people who had fled. In addition, several attempts had been made to ram the boat.
EU wants to investigate incident
The spokesman for the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the recordings were known and that the EU would investigate the incident. Cooperation between the Union and Libya has been heavily criticized, especially by non-governmental organizations. The mandate of the EU mission “Irini” provides for the EU to support the Libyan coast guard with training.
The Libyan coast guard also wants to react
The Libyan coast guard condemned the act according to a report by the “Libya Observer” and wants to take legal action against the patrol.
Again and again the Libyan and Tunisian coast guards intercept boat migrants who leave the coasts of the countries in boats for Europe. Aid organizations criticize this because, according to their statements, the people in the crisis country Libya are threatened with violence. During the dangerous crossings, people sometimes get into distress and lose their lives. According to the UN, more than 720 migrants died in the central Mediterranean this year.