The humanitarian organization SOS Mediterranean conducted Sunday its third rescue in three days off the waters of Libya, rescuing 81 people, and now hosts 251 survivors aboard the Ocean Viking that the NGO operates with Médecins sans Frontières, the report said. AFP on board.
Migrants from Sudan, Senegal and Ivory Coast
The blue rubber boat was carrying young men, mostly Sudanese who had left the Libyan coast on Saturday night and applauded the rescuers as they arrived. The Ocean Viking continues to patrol international waters about 50 nautical miles (less than 100 km) from Tripoli. "We are the only ones in the area, the Libyan coastguards are not responding," SOS Mediterranean coordinator Nicholas Romaniuk told AFP. also highlights the favorable weather conditions that can encourage departures. In addition, the celebration of one of the main festivals of the Muslim calendar, Eid-el-Kebir, may also lighten the presence of authorities on the beaches of Libya.
The Viking Ocean is the successor to Aquarius and is flying the Norwegian flag. Most of the people gathered on board since the boat entered the area are Sudanese for about two-thirds (64.5%). But the first inflatable boat rescued on Friday carried 81 people from West Africa, especially Senegal and Ivory Coast came to seek work in Libya and caught up in the war. MSF, which takes care of their registration on board, noted Sunday that three-quarters (81%) of the last rescued people are between 18 and 34 years old and that 17% are minors under 18 years.