Humanity Rescue Ship Averts Tragedy, Saving 126 Lives in Central Mediterranean"
In the early hours of Thursday morning, the Humanity 1 rescue ship intercepted a distressed wooden boat in the central Mediterranean, rescuing 126 individuals, including 30 minors and a newborn. The survivors, suffering from hypothermia, dehydration, and exhaustion, had embarked from the Libyan coast two days prior, facing treacherous weather conditions and high waves.
The rescue operation unfolded in the darkness, with survivors clinging to the boat for hours as it battled waves up to two meters high. The rescue ship, Humanity 1, navigated challenging conditions to shuttle refugees, including an infant and elderly individuals, to safety. Viviana di Bartolo, Humanity 1's search and rescue coordinator, highlighted the dire state of the survivors, many of whom were barefoot, soaked in salt water, and disoriented.
The rescued individuals shared harrowing stories of their attempts to cross the Mediterranean, describing human rights violations in Libyan prisons and the unbearable conditions in the North African country. One survivor, who attempted the journey multiple times, labelled Libya as "hell," recounting months of unsuccessful attempts and forceful returns by the Libyan coastguard.
Despite international law requiring vessels to aid boats in distress, the survivors' wooden boats lacked safety equipment, life jackets, and basic necessities like water and food. Humanity 1's crew, operated by the German NGO SOS Humanity, responded to two Mayday calls on Wednesday night, confirming that both were related to the same distressed boat rescued the following morning.
With 2,498 known drownings in 2023, the Central Mediterranean remains the deadliest migration route globally, recording the highest fatalities since 2017. However, the actual number is believed to be higher. Departures, often from Libya and Tunisia, involve refugees and migrants escaping violence and discrimination from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Turkey, or Egypt.
Humanity 1 is headed to the port of Genova, north of Italy, with survivors aboard, seeking a closer port due to rough weather conditions and vulnerable cases requiring immediate medical attention. The tragic realities of these perilous sea crossings underscore the urgent need for international cooperation and solutions to address the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean.