Status: 07/31/2021 4:32 p.m.
They wanted to cross the Mediterranean from Libya in a rubber dinghy and were in distress: the rescue ship “Ocean Viking” took the 57 people on board. There are many children and young people among them.
The private rescue ship “Ocean Viking” rescued 57 people from distress in the Libyan search and rescue zone. As the spokeswoman for the operating organization SOS Méditerranée, Petra Krischok, announced to the Evangelical Press Service, eight women, one pregnant woman, eleven minors and two small children under five were among them. They were brought to safety on board the “Ocean Viking”.
Most of the rescued come from Cameroon and Ghana, according to the information. The inflatable boat in distress was spotted with binoculars from the bridge of the “Ocean Viking” in the morning, it said.
On Friday, the private organization Sea-Watch had already reported two rescue operations with a total of around 90 people. Here too, many children were brought on board the ship “Sea-Watch 3” from unseaworthy boats. The day before, the Spanish organization Open Arms had reported that it had rescued more than 150 people in the central Mediterranean.
Almost 900 dead this year
The Mediterranean is one of the most dangerous escape routes in the world. According to the International Organization for Migration, so far this year at least 898 people have died trying to get to Europe this way. The destinations of the people, who mostly leave from Tunisia or Libya, are often Italy or Malta.
Time and again, private sea rescuers wait days after missions for the Italian or Maltese authorities to assign a safe harbor.