Six hundred migrants drowned in the Mediterranean over a four-week period

In the four-week period between mid-June and mid-July, more than 600 migrants have drowned or are presumed to have drowned in the Mediterranean, including babies and toddlers. This startling number represents half of the total deaths so far in 2018 according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), adding that the deaths can be attributed to the absence of non-governmental organisation (NGO) rescue boats in the Mediterranean.

“The European political decisions that have been taken during the past weeks have had deadly consequences,” said Karline Kleijer, head of emergencies for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

“There has been a cold-blooded decision to leave men, women and children to drown in the Mediterranean Sea. This is outrageous and unacceptable,” Kleijer added.

Sophie Beau, vice-president of humanitarian rescue organization SOS Méditerranée said that, “Europe bears the responsibility of these deaths on its conscience.” Beau has also been quoted as saying “the political decision to close ports to disembarkations of people rescued at sea, and the total confusion in the Central Mediterranean, has led to an increased mortality on the world’s deadliest sea crossing.”

In an update, MSF has also stated that, “As it is the season of crossings, saving lives must be the urgent priority. Smugglers continue to put people’s life in danger with using unseaworthy boats. There needs to be a sufficiently resourced and fully operational system for saving human lives in the Mediterranean Sea. NGO rescue ships play a vital role in helping people in distress at sea and preventing needless deaths; it’s critical that they have access to the nearest safe ports to disembark people and restock supplies.”

Last month Italian authorities blocked the search and rescue ship Aquarius from disembarking at Italian ports with 630 rescued people. The Aquarius is run by SOS Méditerranée in partnership with MSF. The Italian policy has been aggravated by blockages and obstructions of rescue ships by other European countries.

“Since 2014, more than 650,000 migrants, mainly from Africa and the Middle East, are thought to have arrived in Italy, but many are thought to have later headed to northern European nations,” the Independent reported.

TMP – 22/08/2018