The Italian Coast Guard rescued 22 people and recovered nine bodies after a smugglers’ boat capsized in a storm about 30 miles south of the island of Lampedusa. Survivors indicated that the boat had departed from Sfax, Tunisia carrying 46 people from Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ivory Coast. The boat capsized due to rough seas, with waves reaching up to 16 feet, after the engine broke down, leaving the group adrift. Tragically, the victims included a six-month-old child and eight men, while six survivors were treated for severe hypothermia and dehydration.
After the rescue in rough seas, the Italian Coast Guard continued air surveillance in the area, which is under Malta’s search-and-rescue jurisdiction. The number of crossing attempts typically increase as summer approaches, raising concerns about more shipwrecks, especially as Italy’s restrictions on charity rescue boats impact operations. The Italian government has been instructing charity boats to go to northern ports after each rescue, reducing their operations and impounding boats that it claims violate its rules. Federico Fossi, a spokesman for the UNHCR in Italy, warned that more incidents at sea can be expected as summer approaches.
The International Organization for Migration has reported that the number of migrants missing along the deadly central Mediterranean route from northern Africa to Italy is 385 so far in 2020, and 23,109 since they began the missing migrants project in 2014. This highlights the continued dangers faced by migrants attempting the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean. The UNHCR expressed concerns about the increasing use of unseaworthy metal boats by migrants, leading to more incidents at sea. The organization emphasized the need for increased efforts to address the root causes of migration and provide safe and legal pathways for those seeking refuge.
The tragic incident off the coast of Lampedusa underscores the risks faced by migrants and the deadly consequences of attempting the dangerous sea crossings in overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels. The victims of the shipwreck included men, women, and children from several African countries, highlighting the global nature of the migration crisis. The survivors who were rescued from the capsized boat were treated for hypothermia and dehydration, underscoring the physical toll of the perilous journey.
The Italian Coast Guard’s rescue efforts, along with ongoing air surveillance in the area, demonstrate the importance of continued search-and-rescue operations in the central Mediterranean. However, the restrictive measures imposed by the Italian government on charity rescue boats have raised concerns about the impact on rescue operations and the safety of migrants attempting the crossing. As the summer season approaches and more people attempt the journey in unsafe conditions, the risk of further shipwrecks and loss of life remains a pressing concern for humanitarian organizations and authorities.
The ongoing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean highlights the need for comprehensive and coordinated efforts to address the root causes of migration, provide safe and legal pathways for refugees, and ensure swift and effective search-and-rescue operations for those in distress at sea. The tragic loss of life in the shipwreck off Lampedusa serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of irregular migration and the urgent need for international cooperation to prevent further tragedies and protect the rights and safety of vulnerable migrants seeking a better life.
