In the Mediterranean, the years go by and nothing changes, or almost nothing.
In the first half of 2021, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has already recorded twice as many deaths of people trying to reach Europe by sea than over the same period last year.
And NGOs believe that these figures are undoubtedly well below reality, because of the boats of which nothing is known and which disappear without leaving any traces.
According to the 1974 Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (Solas), coastal states have a legal obligation to organize and assist searches in the event of a distress signal.
However, since 2016, civil organizations have made up for the lack of commitment from European countries.
On April 21, the Ocean Viking began a race against time in the midst of a storm to try to rescue a dinghy in distress with nearly 130 people on board.
Without assistance from the competent authorities, the ship arrived too late in the area: the boat had already been wrecked.
A few days later, 236 migrants, including 119 minors, were rescued from the two adrift inflatable boats where they were, before being transported to a port on the European continent.
Among these survivors, men, women and children fleeing Libyan hell.
04:23
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