AFM coordinates migrants rescue
Around 170 women and 30 children were on board the boat.
A boat with some 600 immigrants fleeing Libya was expected to arrive in Lampedusa early this morning after a rescue coordinated by the Armed Forces of Malta.
The boat battled force 6 winds and high waves, but still managed to steam towards Lampedusa after launching the alarm through a satellite phone.
Yesterday morning, the Rome rescue coordination authorities notified their Maltese counterparts that a boatload of migrants was located 42 nautical miles from Lampedusa, and 109 miles from Malta.
The AFM managed to establish contact via satellite phone with the migrants, which included 170 women and 30 children. Despite claiming that their boat was taking in water, they proceeded steadily directly north to Lampedusa, the army said in a statement last night.
By the time the migrants’ boat was 37 miles from Lampedusa late in the morning, Malta had initiated rescue efforts with the US Navy’s 6th Fleet Headquarters in Naples, as well as other merchant vessel shipping in the area, since Italian rescue assets were busy overnight with migrant boat rescue operations.
Despite the inclement weather and the considerable distance from Malta, an AFM patrol vessel left in search of the boat.
Early in the afternoon, a Nato aircraft contacted the Malta centre and confirmed that their boat was still afloat and heading north. An AFM aircraft was simultaneously scrambled to the area, successfully locating the migrants’ 20-metre boat.
The immigrants were successfully intercepted by Italian rescuers around 19 miles from Lampedusa. The islet of Lampedusa is once again facing a state of emergency with around 2,000 immigrants from Libya and Tunisia landing in 36 hours.
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Mr John Azzopoardi
May 1st 2011, 14:03
Why aren't these migrants heading to their home countries instead of placing themselves in danger. I also blame this on a lack of policy by the EU, comments made by politicians encouring people to cross over, UNCHR, and NGOs. These people are the same that crossed over. WE don't see many Libyans among them do we. The Libyans despite all the suffering are staying in their country, seeking refugees where they have supporters as they should rightly do. It's their country and do not want to leave it regardless of the fighting. The non Libyans are the ones fleeing from LIbya becuase they have not Libyans. However, they should be heading to their home countries in other parts of Africa, not EUROPE. Today's Europe is not yesterday's Europe. Although rich, it has it's own economic problems. The only reason Europe, including Malta, is becuase it wants these illegal migrants/refugees to do and perform the jobs that no one else wants - street cleaning, construction,etc. What they are not realizing is that in the process, they have to provide all kind of social services at a high cost.
Kenneth Galea
May 1st 2011, 11:17
Now they are fleeing unrest in Libya. What were they fleeing back in 2008 when we had thousands landing on our shores????
No one has the guts to keep them out. We the tax payers do not want them, once they end up here the tax payers have to fork out for their upkeep. It is so easy to let them in but impossible to deport them. It is actually possible to deport them but our GonziPN Government has no guts to do so otherwise he will be vilified by the UNHCR which is the prime tumour of illegal immigration.
Ludgardo Zammit
May 1st 2011, 11:06
The Italian newspaper La Repubblica has another version of this:
http://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/2011/05/01/news/e_arrivato_a_lampedusa_il_barcone_alla_deriva-15603424/?ref=HREC1-1
Is this article referring to the same incident ?
Ms Louise Vella
May 1st 2011, 09:42
"Despite claiming that their boat was taking in water, they proceeded steadily directly north to Lampedusa"
This is proof that you cannot rely on these illegal immigrants to tell the truth. The reports of the Refugee Commissioner remind us of his problems because asylum seekers often tell invented stories and present dubious documents if any. Leaving Libya is an adventure full of life from beginning to end. I pity the poor AFM personel who have to leave on a wild goose chase based on a telephone call by unknown and unreliable persons.