Senior Armed Forces of Malta personnel have criticised the techniques used by an international medical NGO after up to three migrants died on Monday during the course of a rescue.

The migrants died when their vessel capsized during a rescue attempt by Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières).

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 overturning 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.

There are protocols we use, specifically tostop boats from overturning like this

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.

Migrants who were among the 106 rescued during the operation reported that another two men had drowned, but their deaths could not be confirmed.

Questions sent to MSF re-mained unanswered at the time of going to print.

Meinie Nicolai, MSF president and former nurse supervisor on board the Bourbon Argos, said the organisation was deeply saddened by the loss of life.

“Our thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones. Unfortunately, the possible loss of lives is a reality that any search and rescue team working with people in such dangerous conditions may have to face,” she said.

The rescue operation was carried out following a distress call to the Bourbon Argos by the Rome Rescue Coordination Centre. After the rescue, MSF transferred the migrants to the Phoenix, a search and rescue vessel run by the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS).

MOAS had earlier completed a separate rescue of 297 people about two hours away.

The incident happened as Italy, which has borne the brunt of rescuing migrants at sea, demands that other European countries take in migrants.