At least 300 may have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea after a boat carrying them from North Africa sank earlier this week, according to the United Nations. The boat is believed to have left from Libya.
It was described as a “tragedy on an enormous scale” by United Nations High Commission for Refugee regional director Vincent Cochetel, who was quoted by the BBC saying that “Europe cannot afford to do too little too late.” Wednesday’s report came just two days after 29 people died of hypothermia after being rescued by the Italian coastguard from a boat drifting in the Mediterranean.
Italy wound down its ‘Mare Nostrum’ search-and-rescue operation in November, after rescuing around 400 migrants every day for a year. The program was launched after a boat sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa in Oct.2014 killing more than 360 migrants,
Boat Migrants Risk It All for New Life in Europe
Italian navy rescues asylum seekers traveling by boat off the coast of Africa on the Mediterranean, June 7, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisA soldier using binoculars to spot boats carrying asylum seekers, June 2, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisRefugees rescued off a boat and carried onto an Italian navy ship, June 7, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisItalian navy rescues asylum seekers traveling by boat off the coast of Africa, June 7, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisItalian soldier carries a Syrian child on a ship after the Italian navy rescued 443 Syrian asylum seekers off a fishing vessel, June 5, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisAfrican asylum seekers rescued off boats and taken aboard an Italy navy ship, June 8, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisAn empty dinghy with leftover lifesavers after the Italian navy rescued asylum seekers off the coast of Africa, June 7, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisSyrian refugees sleeping on an Italian navy ship after being rescued from a fishing vessel carrying 443 Syrian asylum seekers, June 5, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisSyrian refugees on an Italian navy ship after being rescued from a fishing vessel carrying 443 Syrian asylum seekers, June 5, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisSyrian refugees sleeping on an Italian navy ship after being rescued from a fishing vessel carrying 443 Syrian asylum seekers, June 5, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisAfrican asylum seekers rescued off boats and taken aboard an Italy navy ship, June 8, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisAfrican refugees rescued by the Italian navy at night off a rubber dinghy, June 8, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisAfrican asylum seekers rescued off boats and taken aboard an Italian navy ship, June 8, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisAfrican asylum seekers on board a rescue craft dispatched from an Italian navy ship, June 7.Massimo Sestini—PolarisAfrica refugees on an Italian navy ship after being rescued at sea, June 8, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisA mother and child on a Italian navy ship after being rescued from a fishing vessel carrying 443 Syrian asylum seekers, June 5, 2014. Massimo Sestini—PolarisAbandoned boats graveyard in Lampedusa, May 29, 2014. Massimo Sestini—Polaris
The E.U. now runs “Operation Triton”, a much smaller border control mission with fewer ships and less than a third of Mare Nostrum’s budget.
Italy has pushed for the E.U. to do more to support their rescue efforts. Cochtel said the latest boat disaster is “a stark reminder that more lives could be lost if those seeking safety are left at the mercy of the sea.”
