“More
than 300 people have died while trying to make irregular sea
crossings from North Africa to Europe in the past week, bringing the
death toll this year from sinking vesels on the Mediterranean to
almost 1,900, including some 1,600 since June.”
“...
the first and largest of these incidents occurred last Friday when a
boat, reportedly carrying at least 270 people, capsized near
Garibouli to the east of the Libyan capital, Tripoli. Nineteen people
survived, but the Libyan coastguard has recovered the bodies of 100
others, including five young children and seven women. The remaining
251 passengers are feared drowned.”
“In a
second incident on Saturday evening, the Italian Navy rescued 73
people and recovered 18 bodies from a damaged rubber dinghy 20 miles
from Libyan territorial waters. UNHCR's Fleming said 10 people were
still missing and feared drowned.”
“In a
third incident, on Sunday evening, a fishing boat carrying about 400
people capsized north of the Libyan coast in bad weather. The Italian
Navy and coastguard, in a joint operation with a nearby merchant
ship, rescued 364 people. So far, 24 bodies have been recovered and
more are feared dead. The exact number of missing is not yet
confirmed.”
"UNHCR's
Tripoli office receives daily calls from refugees, asylum-seekers and
other vulnerable people expressing fear for their lives and making
desperate requests for food, water, medicine and relocation. Those
who choose to leave for Italy are taking longer and riskier journeys
through new ports of departure such as Benghazi [in eastern Libya]."
Full
report:
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