Senior Armed Forces of Malta personnel have criticised the techniques used by Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) after three migrants died on Monday during the course of a rescue. 

The rescue and maritime officials contacted by Times of Malta asked why MSF had approached the migrants’ rickety dinghy with their large vessel rather than a rigid-hulled inflatable boat as is standard practice.

“You should never conduct a migrant rescue with such a large vessel. There are protocols we use, specifically to stop boats from capsizing like this,” said a senior AFM officer, who asked not to be named.

Meanwhile, two other rescue personnel called on NGOs to only engage in rescue operations if they have the necessary training, expertise and equipment.

In a statement entitled ‘Saddened by loss of life during rescue’, MSF said its rescue boat had approached a crowded migrant vessel and the weary travellers scrambled to get on board, capsizing their own boat in the process.

Around 25 migrants fell into the water and the majority were unable to swim, the NGO said. 

Some hung on to life jackets and other rescue equipment and were saved by a smaller rescue boat that was eventually deployed from its main vessel, Bourbon Argos. One man spotted by the crew disappeared before being rescued.

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