- Title: Nearly 9,000 migrants rescued in Mediterranean over weekend, IOM says
- Date: 18th April 2017
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (APRIL 18, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) BABAR BALOCH SAYING: "This was an overwhelming search and rescue activity by all sides involved. Yes, we repeat our calls on Europe, on the governments, to be out there saving lives. Non-governmental organisations have been a great help in terms of filling up that vacuum. What's very important and what we need to remind again and again that saving lives is a must. Saving lives is the strength of humanity, not its weakness. So we need to be seeing people being saved." UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
- Embargoed: 2nd May 2017 13:28
- Keywords: Mediterranean Libya Africans IOM sea rescue
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND/ AT SEA, OFF THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST OF SPAIN
- City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND/ AT SEA, OFF THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST OF SPAIN
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0056CXEZIF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Nearly 9,000 mainly African migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean over the Easter holiday weekend, between April 13-16 (Thursday to Sunday), in 65 different search and rescue operations.
Migrants had begun setting out from Libya anew, on unseaworthy boats heading towards Italy, U.N. aid agencies said on Tuesday (April 18).
Overall, these search and rescue operations involved 35 vessels, among which eight belong to NGOs, 11 to the Italian coast guards, 4 to Frontex.
At least 900 men, women and children have died or gone missing while attempting to reach Europe by sea so far this year, while 36,000 have been rescued, against 24,000 last year.
Spanish coast guard rescued 58 African migrants travelling in two separate dinghy boats on Sunday (April 16) in the Alboran Sea, the most western portion of the Mediterranean Sea lying between the Iberian Peninsula and north Africa, coast guard officials said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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