Hundreds of African migrants rescued on Mediterranean Sea

Spain’s maritime rescue service rescued 476 migrants on 6 May as they attempted the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to Europe.

The migrants were rescued from 15 small boats, which departed from Libya on 4 and 5 May. There was no record of deaths or casualties, according to news reports.

In a separate rescue mission on the same day, the Spanish humanitarian group, Proactiva Open Arms, rescued 105 more migrants on the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya.

The migrants are reportedly from Nigeria, Egypt, Libya and Bangladesh. They were found adrift in a motor-less boat on the sea. The migrants on board reported that smugglers sailing in a different boat removed the migrants’ boat engine midway across the Mediterranean Sea, leaving them helpless.

As the weather improves, sea crossings are likely to increase.

In recent years, tens of thousands of migrants have attempted to travel to Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea using the services of smugglers in vessels that are unfit for the journey and the number of people on board, leading to the deaths of thousands of migrants every year.

The International Organization for Migration, IOM, says 615 migrants have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean so far this year.

Photo Source: premiumtimesng. Photo caption: A drifting migrant boat on the Mediterranean Sea

TMP – 25/05/2018