The Geo Barents ship of the NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has urgently asked for a port to land at 367 migrants rescued last weekend before arrival in the area of a hurricane.
"There are 367 people in the Geo Barents who have gone through unbearable experiences.Now they have to face even a hurricane.How many obstacles should these human beings endure before they can be taken to a safe place on land?.We urge the Italian authorities to give us a safe port, "the NGO wrote on their social networks.
The bad weather that is affecting southern Italy, with the arrival of a so -called Mediterranean hurricane with winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour and heavy rains, is reaching the area where the MSF ship is located.
The International NGO explained in a note that of the 367 people on board, 172 are minors, young children and adolescents and 134 of them are not accompanied.
“Imagine being in a crowded ship without a life jacket.Imagine being surrounded by waves up to three meters high while your clothes are soaked and inhaled combustible.Imagine running out of food and water as time passes, without protection against the sun, wind and rain.Imagine asking for help and nobody answers.This is the reality that we are witnessing at sea, ”said Caroline Willemen, coordinator of the project on board the ship in the statement.
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On the morning of October 22, the MSF teams made the first rescue since they arrived in the area and 36 migrants were uploaded aboard the Geo Barents and, during the operation, the Geo Barents received a new alert, this time, byAn in danger boat, located several hours away.
A humanitarian catastrophe
After approximately two intense hours, the team was able to climb on board the 65 survivors and that same night the Geo Barents received a third alert: "Another wooden ship crowded from people was in danger and although the authorities were aware of the situation, nobody responded or intervened, "they denounced
“This is another clear example of how nearby coastal states refuse to assume any responsibility for people in danger in the sea.The ship had been in dangerous waters for three days, with 100 people on board, including 42 children, ”said Willemen, who regretted:" It is unacceptable to leave the NGOs to fill the deadly vacuum, "he continues.
On October 23, with 201 people on board, the Geo Barents received a new alert from another in danger, six hours after their position and rescued 95 people.During all these operations he witnessed how the Libya Coast Guard intercepted ships with migrants and returned them to that country.
The last rescue was on October 24, the MSF ship found another rubber boat that was filling with water with 71 people on board.
“These two days (rescue) emphasize the humanitarian catastrophe that is happening on the southern border of Europe.Since only humanitarian ships monitor the most deadly immigration route in the world, a greater search and rescue capacity is desperately needed.Now we ask Italy to provide a safe place as soon as possible.The weather forecast is bad and we are concerned to have almost 400 survivors who have already passed enough.His suffering must end, ”concluded the coordinator.