Hundreds of Migrants Rescued in Mediterranean, NGO Says
Dozens of people were rescued from small craft in the Mediterranean Sea on October 18, the migrant rescue organization Sea-Watch said.
According to Sea-Watch, spotters from their aircraft Seabird and vessel Sea-Watch 3 located 73 people in distress in a wooden boat and a further 219 people, including children, in three dinghies off the coast of Libya over the course of the day on Monday.
Monday’s efforts brought the total number of people rescued at sea to 412 since the Sea-Watch 3 departed on its mission on October 10, the organization said.
“Each of our missions highlights the catastrophic rescue gap that European states have created at the world‘s deadliest border. Within a few hours, we were able to rescue hundreds of people, but for many, any help comes too late. Those who place the protection of borders higher than the protection of human life share the responsibility for every death in the Mediterranean,” said Philipp Hahn, head of mission on board the Sea-Watch 3, in a press release.
Video and photos taken by Sandra Singh from aboard the Sea-Watch 3 and its small craft give a first-person view of the rescues on Monday, October 18. Credit: Sandra Singh/Sea-Watch via Storyful
