Migrant Ship With 43 People Sinks In The Mediterranean
43 migrants had an ill-fated death when their ship capsized on the Mediterranean Sea, off the Libyan Coast, revealed 2 different UN agencies.
Ship Overturned
A joint statement released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said that the migrant ship overturned in the rough seas as the ship’s engine ran out when it left the Zawya city on Tuesday.
Survivors Taken To Shore
The International Rescue Committee which was a UN partner on the ground reported that 10 survivors have been rescued and brought to shore by coastal security. The survivors are from West African countries.
Emergency assistance including food, water and medicine were given to survivors before their release from the port.
Call for State Led Rescue Efforts
The incident is a first in 2021. Earlier in 2020 100s of migrants officially died while crossing the Mediterranean. The actual number of deaths remained uncertain as monitoring has hampered due to covid restrictions.
Libya forms a crucial stopping point for African and Middle Eastern migrants making their way to Europe via sea. The UN had urged for state led search and rescue operations to prevent such deaths. They have also called on states to not return these migrants to unsafe ports.
Reference: voanews.com
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