Italian ship assists migrants in rough seas
An Italian motor tanker, the Antignano is assisting a boat carrying some 200 migrants in the Libyan rescue zone some 70 miles north of Benghazi.
The operation is taking place in very rough sea conditions.
An AFM spokesman denied Italian web media reports that Maltese patrol boats were involved in the operation, but said Malta Rescue Coordination Centre is being kept informed as a neighbouring SAR authority by their Italian counterparts. The spokesman stressed that the boat was pinpointed in the Libyan search and rescue region of responsibility and the operation is being coordinated by Italian authorities in conjunction with the Libyan authorities.
The alarm was raised by a satellite phone call from the boat to an official of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) late yesterday, and the boat's position was then pinpointed by satellite.
The Italian ship was directed to the migrants' boat by the Italian rescue coordination centre in Rome.
Another migrants' boat, also believed to have left from Benghazi, arrived in Noto, Italy, a few days ago.
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Joe Xuereb
Oct 25th 2009, 11:44
@ IGalea. I read most of the links you provided tot he press digest. The Detention Centres do indeed look terrible. But I understand that the detainees don't exactly look after the place. The syndrome here is one where the self-perceived victim plays the 'victim card' to the hilt. Classic.
One woman complained that she did not expect Europe to be like 'this'. What did she expect, a five bedroom Council house for her child and the planned rest? And given her strong - some would say, misplaced - maternal instinct, and that she is not likely to work, who exactly does she think will finance her life-long dependency? Of course many in 'money-rich'(?) Europe live like this and she wants a piece of the cake. The fact that she is African does not occur to her.
What are the guys from Ghana, Nigeria doing in these detention centres?
It's so noble of Medecins.sans.frontieres to damn Malta for its shortcomings. I am Maltese, one with insights into Gericault's magnificent masterpiece 'The Raft of the Medusa' and its disturbing symbolism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raft_of_the_Medusa
I'd imagine Medecins sans frontieres, of all people, would be familiar with this harrowing work in the Louvre.
Derek Steele
Oct 25th 2009, 10:59
What good planning,a satellite phone AND the phone number of an official of the UNHCR. This truly beggars belief!!!
David Portelli
Oct 25th 2009, 10:26
I can't understand why the UN and The European Union are bullying and putting all the Pressure on Malta such a small Island and defence less but no one tries to take action against Libya.
This week Barosso spoke about the basic rules of Illegal immigration and he spoke about the problem Italy and Greece are facing but he didn't even mention Malta.Just an example of what Importance we get among the European Union.
For this Problem we have to blame The UN and EU for the lack of interest and irresponsability they are showing.
And our government should STOP licking their shoes and stop participating in the rescue for the irrisponsible immigrants in the middle of the mediterranean sea.It's Clear NO ONE wants to help US.