http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/15/100-migrants-feared-dead-mediterranean-shipwreck/
More than 100 migrants feared dead in Mediterranean shipwreck
By Josephine McKenna
15 JANUARY 2017 • 5:53PM
More than 100 migrants were feared dead after their rubber dinghy sank in the Mediterranean Sea late on Saturday.
The Italian Coast Guard said the search for survivors was continuing on Sunday after four people were rescued and eight bodies were recovered in rough seas after their vessel sank in frigid waters about 30 miles off the Libyan coast.
“Harsh weather conditions were probably the cause of the shipwreck,” Flavio di Giacomo, Rome spokesman for the International Organisation of Migration told The Telegraph.
“These dinghies are unfit to travel, with poor weather conditions they may become lethal unfortunately.”
Mr Di Giacomo said that four of the estimated 110 people on board had been saved and that he was waiting for survivors to reach land for more details.
Three other bodies were recovered from another vessel in a separate rescue operation between Libya and Sicily.
The latest tragedies occurred after Italy’s interior minister, Marco Minniti, met Fayez Al-Serraj, the head of Libya’s presidential council, and other officials in Tripoli last week to tackle the migrant crisis. Italy has reopened its embassy in the capital.
Libya is considering proposals from Rome to co-operate to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and the unscrupulous people smugglers taking advantage of them.
Malta, which now holds the EU presidency, is looking for the EU to adopt a similar agreement and the country’s foreign minister, George Vella, is due to brief counterparts in Brussels on Monday on talks he had with the Libyan leader.
But the migrant crossings show no sign of slowing down on the Mediterranean route despite freezing winter weather.
Scores of migrants were believed to be still missing from the latest tragedy as a Frontex vessel and three merchant vessels with aerial support continued to search for survivors on Sunday.
The organisation Doctors without Borders, which carries out maritime rescue missions in the Mediterranean, Tweeted: “In 2017, the sea continues to take the lives of the most desperate.”
Earlier on Saturday three migrants were found dead and three others – including a pregnant woman - were found suffering from severe hypothermia in a separate rescue operation off the coast of Sicily and flown by helicopter to the island of Lampedusa for urgent care.
“The transfers were very difficult because of the rough seas,” Lampedusa mayor, Giusi Nicolini, told Catholic daily, Avvenire. “Sixty of them (migrants) had to be put on a fishing boat.”
At least 550 refugees were rescued by the Italian Coast Guard off the coast of Libya on Friday as people smugglers continue to operate with impunity in the divided country, charging migrants thousands of pounds for the perilous journey to Europe.
According to the UN’s International Organisation for Migration, more than 1,100 people arrived in Europe by sea in the first two weeks of 2017, compared to 22,590 for the first 12 days of January, 2016.
Marking the World Day of Migrants and Refugees at the Vatican on Sunday, Pope Francis called for more action to vulnerable child migrants, in particular.
“We must do everything possible to guarantee the protection and defence of child migrants as well as their integration,” the pope said.
Of the 181,436 migrants who arrived in Italy in 2016, IOM said the largest number came from Nigeria – 37,551 – accounting for more than 20 percent of total arrivals.
Received on Sun Jan 15 2017 - 14:21:48 EST